By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A Shelby County grand jury will decide if it will uphold sexual abuse of a child charges against a 49-year-old Alabaster man during an upcoming session.

In September, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves bound one felony count of first-degree sexual abuse and two felony counts of first-degree sodomy against James Harrison Moore over to a grand jury to consider during “its next available session.”

The grand jury will review evidence in the cases and decide if it will indict Moore on the charges.

Moore was released from jail after posting bonds on June 27, which was four days after he was arrested by the Alabaster Police Department and charged with two felony counts of first-degree sodomy and one felony count of first-degree sexual abuse.

Moore’s arrest came after a member of the victim’s family told police Moore allegedly sexually abused the teenage victim over the “last couple of years,” Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney said previously.

Because the victim is a juvenile, Rigney said he was unable to release many details about the crime.

First-degree sodomy is a Class A felony, and first-degree sexual abuse is a Class C felony. Class A felonies carry prison sentences of up to 99 years, and Class C felonies carry sentences of up to 10 years.