A 43-year-old man from Kentucky, Justin Stephens, is facing serious charges of rape and solicitation after allegedly posing as the father of an underage girl, whom he then abducted from her school in Alabama and sexually assaulted. Stephens is said to have driven over 450 miles to meet a 15-year-old student from Central High School in Florence, as detailed in a lawsuit filed by the victim’s mother.
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The lawsuit alleges that Stephens pretended to be the girl’s father in order to check her out of school for the day. He then reportedly took her to an abandoned house where he raped and sodomized her. Security cameras captured the pair returning to the school later in the day in Stephens’ black Dodge truck, providing crucial evidence in the case.
Upon discovering disturbing exchanges between their daughter and Stephens on her confiscated phone, the victim’s parents alerted law enforcement, leading to Stephens’ arrest in October 2024. He was indicted in January 2025 on charges including traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act, rape in the 2nd degree, and enticement of a child for unlawful purposes.
In a shocking turn of events, Stephens was recently transferred from the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office to the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office, where he faced additional charges related to allegedly taking the teenage victim to a hotel in the area. These new charges include rape in the 1st degree, rape in the 2nd degree, sodomy in the 2nd degree, electronic solicitation of a child, interference with custody, and traveling to meet a child for unlawful sex act.
Following his transfer, Stephens became one of the first individuals detained under Aniah’s Law in the state, which allows judges to deny bond to suspects accused of serious crimes like rape and murder. Despite the mounting charges against him, Stephens has not yet entered a plea, and his public defender has not responded to requests for comment from the media.
Additionally, the victim’s mother has filed a lawsuit against the school and specific administrators, alleging negligence in releasing her daughter to Stephens’ care. The Lauderdale School System is yet to provide a response to these allegations, stating previously that they are cooperating with law enforcement on the ongoing investigation.
The case has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns about child safety and the potential for exploitation. As the legal proceedings unfold, many are closely following the developments and hoping for justice to be served for the victim and her family.