Parents charged with aiding son in statutory rape
A former Hodges resident accused of statutory rape and his parents who allegedly knew and allowed the rape to happen have been taken into custody, authorities said.
Franklin County Courthouse officials said Joshua Allen Stidham, 20, 1133 Marion 241, Bear Creek, has been indicted for second-degree rape.
His parents, Tim Stidham, 41, and Sonia Stidham, 39, of 597 Swindle Road, Hodges, were also indicted for aiding and abetting second-degree rape and contributing to the dependency of a minor child.
Josh Stidham
Franklin County Sheriff’s office investigators said Josh Stidham was arrested and charged with second-degree rape of a 14 year-old female on Friday, April 9.
Franklin County Courthouse officials said Stidham was 18 years old at the time of the sexual activity and the victim was 13.
Investigators said both Stidham and the girl were staying with Stidham’s parents’ home for an extended period of time and over that period of time both admitted to being sexually active on numerous occasions.
The indictment accuses Tim and Sonia Stidham of allowing their son to continually engage in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 16 and permitting the minor to share a bed with their adult son
Sonia Stidham
where sexual acts took place.
The indictment also states the Stidhams took measures to prevent the girl from leaving the residence.
Reports claim Stidham’s parents allowed their adult son and the minor child to sleep together in their own bed on multiple occasions while the then 13-year old girl was living with them at their residence.
Investigators said the Stidhams moved the victim in with them after she became pregnant and gave birth at age 14.
Officials said the victim’s family lived away from the area and were so poverty stricken that they couldn’t afford the gas to come up and get the girl.
Tim Stidham
Authorities said the investigation began when the girl, who is now 16, was not attending school and had given birth.
Investigators said the girl asked to be taken back home on several occasions, but the Stidhams allegedly prevented her from leaving or using the telephone
Officials said when she did attempt to leave; the Stidhams would pick her up and bring her back.
Authorities said the girl and her baby were removed from the Stidhams home after the investigation by the Franklin County Sheriff’s office and are currently in the custody of the Franklin County Department of Human Resources.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said the Stidhams case could hit the trial docket in August.
