By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 40-year-old Alabaster man is facing up to life in prison after he was indicted recently on charges alleging he sexually abused a child younger than 12 in 2015.

A Shelby County grand jury during its August session returned a two-count indictment against Ramon Rosas Morales, who lists an address on Kent Dairy Road in Alabaster, upholding one felony count of first-degree rape and one felony count of sexual abuse of a child younger than 12.

According to the indictments, which were made public on Aug. 21, Morales allegedly did “engage in sexual intercourse” and did “subject to sexual contact” a female who was younger than 12 from May 2015 to June 2015.

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Morales on Oct. 31, 2015, and charged him with felony counts of first-degree rape and sexual abuse of a child younger than 12.

First-degree rape is a Class A felony, and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison upon conviction, while sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 is a Class B felony, and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison upon conviction.

Morales is set to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court on Oct. 3 for arraignment at 8:30 a.m.

As of Aug. 22, he remained in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $90,000.