Man arrested for living with victim

Joseph Postell

A Haleyville man was arrested on Thursday after authorities discovered he was not only living in the area without registering as a sex offender, but that he was also living with the victim in the case where he was convicted of a sexual crime.

Joseph Thomas Postell, 25, 180 Winston 110, Haleyville, was arrested for failure to register as a sex offender, being a sex offender establishing a residence with a minor, and being a sex offender establishing a residence with a victim, Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said.

According to Hargett, investigators with the Russellville Police Department received a call on Thursday from the Winston County Adult Parole office who stated Postell was alleged to be living in Russellville with the victim in his case based out of Winston County.

According to reports, Postell was arrested and convicted of second-degree rape of a 15-year-old female and was allegedly living in a residence with the female and another relative.

Police investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery said investigators went to a residence in the 800 block of Gaines Avenue where they discovered Postell had in fact been living with the victim and a grandmother for approximately three weeks.

Lowery said Postell was arrested on the above charges and is currently being held on probation violations out of Winston County.