An Alabama man is facing severe charges after allegedly raping a 5-year-old girl. The victim was hospitalized and required surgery following the attack, which occurred last Thursday. Steven Sarandon Barnes, 28, was arrested and charged with first-degree rape, chemical endangerment of a child, and second-degree possession of marijuana, according to The Montgomery Advertiser.
District Attorney Randall Houston expressed his outrage, stating, “Anybody who would do this to a child is a complete and total danger to the society and does not need to be roaming about the community where children are at large. This is one sick bastard who I hope never sees the light of day. We’ll do everything we can to make that happen.”
Millbrook Police Chief P.K. Johnson reported that authorities responded to a Prattville hospital on Thursday following a report of a sexually assaulted child. The child underwent surgery, and Chief Johnson believed she was in stable condition as of Saturday. The subsequent police investigation identified Barnes as the suspect, leading to his arrest in the neighborhood where the attack took place.
Barnes faces charges of first-degree rape, chemical endangerment of a child, and second-degree possession of marijuana. (Millbrook Police Department photo)
Chief Johnson conveyed his deep dismay at the circumstances, describing it as “one of the worst cases that I’ve seen in my 31 years in law enforcement.” He emphasized the emotional toll the case has taken on all involved.
“In speaking with our Criminal Investigative Unit, I am confident that we’ve reached out to all the different social and child advocate organizations that we can to help us make the strongest case possible to prosecute the alleged offender, but even more importantly to help this minor child recover from this horrific ordeal,” Johnson said. The focus remains on both justice for the victim and her long-term recovery.
Barnes is currently held on $106,000 bail, with $100,000 required to be paid in cash, according to The Advertiser. It is currently unknown if he has retained legal counsel. The district attorney has indicated plans to work on Monday to increase the charges and the bond amount. The authorities are committed to pursuing the case vigorously.
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