By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A 27-year-old Georgia man was released from the Shelby County Jail Jan. 6 on bonds totaling $45,000 after he was arrested by the Alabaster Police Department and charged with one count of rape and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.

Police arrested Ellijay, Ga., resident Kevin Nichols Wallace on Jan. 3 after police said the charges were tied to incidents involving a 10-year-old family member and a 13- or 14-year-old family member. The alleged incidents occurred between March 2006 and January 2007.

Alabaster Deputy Police Chief Curtis Rigney said the alleged victims “were not blood relatives” of the suspect, and said the alleged incidents occurred at the victims’ residence in Alabaster.

Rigney said officers arrested Wallace at the Alabaster Walmart after obtaining warrants. According to police records, Wallace’s occupation was listed as a truck driver for the Army.