Two arrested for statutory rape on separate incidents

Kevin Willis

Josh Stidham

Two Franklin County men have been arrested and charged with rape in separate incidents.

Franklin County Sheriff’s office investigators said Joshua Allen Stidham, 20, of 597 Swindall Road in Hodges was arrested and charged with second-degree rape of a 14 year-old female on Friday, April 9.

Authorities said on a separate occasion Kevin O’Neil Willis, 43, of 158 McKay Road in Russellville was arrested and charged with second-degree rape, second-degree sexual abuse and incest involving a 14-year-old girl on Tuesday, April 13.

Franklin County Courthouse officials said Stidham was 18 years old at the time and the victim was age 13.

Investigators said both Stidham and the girl were staying with Stidham’s parents home for a long period of time and over that period of time both admitted to being sexually active on numerous occasion.

Second-degree rape is a class B felony and, if convicted, is punishable by two to 20 years in prison.

Authorities said a concerned family member made the call that led investigators to arrest Willis in Russellville.

Reports show Willis has had intercourse with the girl on several occasions and the assaults date all the way back to May.

One of the occasions occurred at King’s Drive-in, which is the occasion a concerned family member referred while talking with authorities, officials said.

Willis also faces charges of second-degree rape and second-degree sexual abuse in Colbert County stemming from an assault on the same young girl under the age of 16 years old.

Stidham has since been released on $25,000 bond while Willis is being held at the Franklin County Jail on $35,000 bond.