From The Tribune staff reports
PELL CITY — A man accused of human trafficking and sexual abuse is scheduled for trial in St. Clair County on March 15, 2021.
Pell City authorities said Brent Lee Higginbotham, 27, of Ragland, is accused of soliciting a teenager for sex. The teen was in a parking lot on Main Street South when police said she was approached by Higginbotham. The teen said Higginbotham blocked the door of her car and made sexual comments to her. He was later arrested and charged with human trafficking and tampering with evidence.
The incident in Pell City happened on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. At the time, Higginbotham was out on bond in connection to a 2017 case in Trussville. Police said the 14-year-old victim told them that Higginbotham grabbed her in the parking lot of Trussville Crossing Shopping Center on Chalkville Mountain Road.
The victim was able to get away. Higginbotham was charged with one count of first-degree sexual abuse by force and a second charge of second-degree sexual abuse due to the age of the victim. The bond for the Jefferson County case was revoked.
As for the charges in Jefferson County, a status hearing was scheduled for Feb. 16, but court records have not been updated since the scheduled hearing.
