Clanton man pleads guilty to sexual abuse
Published 5:37 pm Friday, October 24, 2014
A Clanton man pleaded guilty Oct. 15 to one count of sexual abuse in the first degree.
Clint Morgan Burnett, 23, was arrested Feb. 27, 2014, for sexual abuse charges against a minor.
Burnett was originally charged with three counts of sodomy (Class A felonies) and one count of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 (Class B felony).
Prosecutors agreed to drop three counts (two counts sodomy and one count of sexual abuse of a child less than 12, and amended one count of sodomy to sexual abuse in the first degree (Class C felony), according to court documents.
Burnett was a volunteer firefighter at Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, and authorities at the time of the arrest confirmed some of the crimes occurred at the fire department.
Chilton County Sheriff Kevin Davis said at the time of Burnett’s arrest that authorities became involved in the case through a family member of the victim making a report to the Chilton County Department of Human Resources (DHR).
Davis said after the report was made, the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department started the investigation.
Fairview Volunteer Fire Chief Joe Cole said at the time of Burnett’s arrest that representatives at the fire department were not aware some of the occurrences were taking place at the fire department.
Burnett was placed on a leave of absence at the time of his arrest.
Authorities confirmed it was the same male victim on all counts.
Burnett’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 10 at the Chilton County Courthouse.
Burnett, who is out of jail on a $55,000 bond, could face up to four years in prison.