A 40-year-old Marbury man is in jail after he allegedly shot a 19-year-old Clanton man in the leg Friday morning in the West End neighborhood of Clanton.

Sylvester Hilliard of Marbury was charged with first-degree assault. He is currently in the Chilton County Jail with a $30,000 bond.

Michael Gilbert, 19, who is originally of Stone Mountain, Ga. but currently lives in Clanton, was shot in the upper leg about 10 a.m. in the 900th block of First Avenue.

The Clanton Fire Department treated Gilbert on the scene, and he was transported to UAB Hospital by ambulance. Gilbert was listed in stable condition.

Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell said Gilbert was allegedly involved in an inappropriate relationship with a 12-year-old girl according to reports. Police believe that is what led to the shooting.

“We are currently working two cases. The first case concerns the shooting of Mr. Gilbert and the second is a possible sexual assault on a minor, which may have led up to this shooting incident.”

As of late yesterday afternoon, investigators were still conducting interviews in these cases. Workers from the Chilton County Department of Human Resources and forensic investigators from Child Protect in Montgomery have assisted Clanton Police detectives in the sexual assault case.

“We are still investigating the sexual assault case, but I do anticipate felony charges being filed on Mr. Gilbert,” Stilwell added.

According to state law, Hilliard could face jail time of at least 10 years if he is convicted in this case.