CULLMAN, Ala. – Justin Anthony Jeffries, 26, of Arab, who fled from Alabama to Oregon in April, was back in Cullman this week after being charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old, among other charges. This adds to an already-existing list of pending charges of sexual crimes against children. In the hearing this week, Jeffries’ bond was revoked in earlier cases. Jeffries, looking much different this week than in his previous booking photos, has not been convicted of any crime against children.
Jeffries was arrested in November 2018 (Cullman District Court case 2018-180202) for sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old: specifically, for subjecting a 6-year-old child to sexual contact in 2017. On Nov. 26, 2018 he was assigned a $15,000 unsecured bond, meaning he did not have to pay anything to be released, two months after Federal Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala issued an injunction against Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, requiring the sheriff and local courts to issue unsecured bonds in all but a few cases. Jeffries was formally indicted on Feb. 14, 2019, and the $15,000 unsecured bond was renewed.
Jeffries was arrested a second time a month later, in December 2018 (District Court case 2018-180283), for the sexual abuse of another child, this one age 5, between March and September 2018. He was again assigned a $15,000 unsecured bond which was renewed after his indictment in 2019.
One condition of Jeffries’ bond was that he remain in Cullman County, but on April 20, 2020, authorities discovered he had moved to Oregon. The following day, Cullman County Circuit Judge Martha Williams issued a warrant for his arrest. Law enforcement agencies in Oregon located Jeffries and took him into custody, returning him to Cullman.
Jeffries’ May 26 hearing added two more child sex abuse charges, plus others, involving two additional victims. The arrest warrant issued May 13, 2020 by the District Court Magistrate set the bond for the new charges at $60,000, again unsecured, but documents filed after the hearing indicate that Jeffries was assigned a secured (requiring actual payment or surety) bond of $80,000 on each charge.
In all, Jeffries faces:
- Four counts of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old, alleging assaults against children ages 5, 6, 6 and 7. The crime is a Class B felony, and carries a sentence of up to 20 years per charge.
- One charge of sexual torture, the definition of which includes “burning, crushing, wounding, mutilating, or assaulting the sex organs or intimate parts of another person, with the intent to sexually torture, sexually abuse, or to gratify the sexual desire of either party.” The crime is a Class A felony and carries a mandatory 10-year sentence and a maximum of up to 99 years.
- One charge of aggravated child abuse – The charge alleges repeated abuse, abuse in violation of a court order or abuse leading to serious injury. The crime is also a Class B felony.
- One charge of second-degree assault, a Class C felony with a sentence of up to 10 years.
Jeffries’ co-defendant in the 2020 case, Amy Nicole Lovell, 29, of Remlap was arrested in Walker County in 2009 and charged with unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child in that case.
Lovell was released on a $10,000 surety (bail bondsman) bond. According to court records, the 2009 case is still open. The Tribune could not reach the Walker County Circuit Clerk’s office for more information.
Lovell was charged with one count each of:
- Sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old
- Sexual torture
- Aggravated child abuse
- Second-degree assault
Lovell has no previous history of violent or sexual crimes against children. She was released on an unsecured bond of $60,000 issued by the District Court Magistrate.
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