Helena resident arrested, charged with sodomy

Published 11:56 pm Wednesday, June 10, 2009

A Helena resident has been charged with four counts of first-degree sodomy, two counts of child abuse and one count of second-degree rape.

Joseph Allen Ray, 29, turned himself in to the Helena Police Department at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, after police had recovered evidence from his home in the 300 block of Old Cahaba Trail earlier in the evening.

The Alabaster Police Department has charged Ray with two counts of first-degree sodomy, two counts of child abuse and one count of second-degree rape, while the Helena Police Department is charging him with the other two counts of first-degree sodomy. The bond amount for all charges is $690,000.

“If anyone’s had contact with (Ray) or has any information about him, we would like for them to contact either the Alabaster or Helena Police Department,” Alabaster Police Deputy Chief Curtis Rigney said.

Ray is being held at the Shelby County Jail.