By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – An Alabaster man facing allegations he sexually abused an underage victim in August 2015 has been released from the Shelby County Jail after his bonds were lowered through an agreement between the defense and prosecution.

Rafael Martinez, who lists an address on Camp Branch Circle in Alabaster, was released from the Shelby County Jail on Nov. 16 after posting a $30,000 bond, according to Shelby County District Court records.

His bond originally was set at a total of $200,000 after he was arrested in February and charged with felony counts of first-degree rape and sexual abuse of a child younger than 12, but his bond was lowered to $30,000 in early November.

In a request to lower Martinez’ bond, his attorney claimed Martinez “has maintained his innocence and has been exonerated through DNA testing completed by the Shelby County D.A.’s office of being the father of the victim’s child,” and said Martinez wishes “to clear this matter as well as his good name and reputation.”

Martinez is now set to appear in court on Nov. 30 for a hearing.

Shortly before Martinez requested a lower bond, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office arrested another suspect in the case: 30-year-old Alabaster resident Ramon Rosas Morales, who lists an address on Kent Dairy Road.

Morales is also facing felony counts of first-degree rape and sexual abuse of a child younger than 12, and is set to appear in Shelby County District Court on Dec. 1 at 8:30 a.m.