Sheriff’s office and ABI apprehend sexual predator

Investigators arrested a Marion County man on Friday who confessed to sexually abusing two different girls nearly 20 years ago, authorities said.

Quinnon William Riddle, 46, 2559 Marion 62, Haleyville, was arrested about 9:30 a.m. Friday and charged with first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver, investigators with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation learned about Riddle’s history of sexual abuse through an on-going investigation in a separate county.

After his arrest at his Bear Creek-area residence, he was interviewed by FCSO and ABI officers at the Franklin County Jail.

Oliver said that during the interview, Riddle confessed to fondling at least two different girls between the ages of six and eight on multiple occasions in the last 20 years.

According to Oliver, Riddle was also asked during the interview how he would label himself and he stated he considered himself to be a sexual predator but then he said, “No, I am more of an opportunist.”

Oliver said Riddle told them he had tried to stay away from young girls because he knew he had a problem, but over the years, the opportunity to sexually abuse young girls had just presented itself.

“Anyone who would consider themselves to be a sexual predator and knows that they have a problem is someone we need to get off our streets,” Oliver said.

“The victims have been living with this for 20 years, so maybe they can start to get some type of closure now.”

As of press time, Riddle was still in custody at the Franklin County Jail without bond.

The investigation in this case is still ongoing. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 256-332-8820.