By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – A 35-year-old Helena man has been released from jail on bonds totaling $135,000 after he allegedly raped and sexually abused an underage victim in 2012.

The Alabaster Police Department arrested William Thomas Beavers, who lists an address in the 1400 block of East Whirlaway in Helena, on Sept. 26 and charged him with felony counts of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse.

Beavers previously served 372 days in the Shelby County Jail in 2013 after he pleaded guilty to one felony count of interference with custody for “knowingly taking or enticing (the victim) from the lawful custody of its parent, guardian or lawful custodian” in 2012. He was released from jail in December 2013, and was serving a three-year supervised probation term when he was arrested on Sept. 26.

Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney said the rape, sodomy and sexual abuse charges stemmed from the same incidents tied to Beavers’ 2013 interference with custody arrest.

“He spent some time in jail, and was released within the last year,” Rigney said during an Oct. 1 interview. “Evidence surfaced since he was released, which led to the most recent charges against him.

“These are very serious charges,” Rigney added. “I think our detectives suspected this activity was happening at the time of his (2013) arrest, but there wasn’t enough evidence at the time to arrest him on those charges.”

Beavers is scheduled to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court on Oct. 29 for a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Dan Reeves.

First-degree rape and first-degree sodomy are Class A felonies, and each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison upon conviction.