Duo indicted on child molestation charges

Published 12:57 pm Wednesday, March 11, 2015

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A Pelham man and a Calera man are scheduled to appear in court in late April after they were indicted on charges of allegedly sexually abusing a child.

3-18 n_sex abuse indictment (Mauricio Hernandez-Alvarez

Mauricio Hernandez-Alvarez

Mariano Hernandez-Alvarez, 32, who lists an address on Oliver Street in Pelham, and 29-year-old Mauricio Hernandez-Alvarez, who lists an address on Dry Creek Road in Calera, are both scheduled to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court on April 27 for a status call.

Mariano Hernandez-Alvarez

Mariano Hernandez-Alvarez

During its January session, a Shelby County grand jury indicted Mariano Hernandez-Alvarez on one felony count of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 and indicted Mauricio Hernandez-Alvarez on two felony counts of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12.

Sexual abuse of a child is a Class B felony, and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison per charge upon conviction.

According to court documents, the two men allegedly sexually abused the same child over a 13-month span beginning in Aug. 2013. Mariano Hernandez-Alvarez’ arrest warrant alleges he “subjected “another person who is less than 12 years old to sexual contact.”

Mauricio Hernandez-Alvarez’ arrest warrant alleges he submitted the victim to sexual abuse between October 2013 and October 2014.

As of March 11, Mariano Hernandez-Alvarez was being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $15,000 bond and Mauricio Hernandez-Alvarez was being held on bonds totaling $30,000. Both have remained incarcerated since their 2014 arrest.