Bessemer Man Arrested For Sexual Abuse of Teen Girl

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A 33-year-old Bessemer man has been arrested for sexually abusing a young female victim over a three year period. On December 22, 2017, a family member of the victim reported that the victim had disclosed sexual abuse by a family friend to a social worker.

Sheriff’s Youth Services detectives conducted an investigation, and found that Stephen Andrew Shirley had sexually abused the teen over a three year period. On February 23, detectives obtained arrest warrants charging Shirley with Sodomy 1stDegree, Sexual Abuse 1st Degree, and Enticing a Child for Immoral Purposes.

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When Shirley learned of the warrants he went into hiding, and even called a relative of the victim threarening harm. Detectives obtained an additional arrest warrant charging him with Terroristic Threats and requested that the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force assist in locating Stephen Shirley.

Shirley was located August 3 and arrested. He was taken to the Jefferson County Jail where he remains in jail with bond set at $120,750.

Photo via Jefferson County Jail

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