DeKalb County, Ala., man charged with sexually abusing two girls under 12

A Dawson, Ala., man is accused of sexually abusing two girls under the age of 12, police said.

Clarence Hale, 61, was charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse. An additional count will go before the DeKalb County grand jury at its next meeting, Sheriff Jimmy Harris said in a news release.

The sheriff’s office received a report Sunday that a person had committed inappropriate acts with the girls. They were interviewed on Monday, and information from the interview and subsequent investigation led to Hale’s arrest, Harris said.

Hale has apparently been an acquaintance of the victims’ family for several years, and the reported acts occurred at his residence, Harris said.

In 1995, Hale was convicted of three counts of sodomy. The victims in that case were also girls under 12 years old. Hale may also face charges stemming from Community Notification Act violations, Harris said.