By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 32-year-old Alabaster man is set to stand trial on rape and sexual abuse of a child charges in early November, according to scheduling documents recently filed in Shelby County Circuit Court.

Ramon Rosas Morales, who lists an address on Kent Dairy Road in Alabaster, is set to stand trial at the Shelby County Courthouse beginning on Monday, Nov. 5. He also must appear in court on Oct. 30 for a plea date.

A Shelby County grand jury during its August 2017 session returned a two-count indictment against Morales upholding the two felony charges.

According to the indictments, Morales allegedly did “engage in sexual intercourse” and did “subject to sexual contact” a female who was younger than 12 from May 2015 to June 2015.

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Morales on Oct. 31, 2015, and charged him with felony counts of first-degree rape and sexual abuse of a child younger than 12.

First-degree rape is a Class A felony, and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison upon conviction, while sexual abuse of a child younger than 12 is a Class B felony, and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison upon conviction.

As of Sept. 26, he remained in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $90,000.