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By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

The Jemison Police Department arrested a 33-year-old Shelby man July 18 on alleged child abuse charges.

Shawn Wesley Averett has been charged with aggravated child abuse and sexual abuse using an inanimate object.

According to a social media post by JPD, the child in the case is 15 months old.

“Investigators were notified by Shelby Hospital that the child was in their facility with head injuries,” said the post. “The alleged incident occurred in the Jemison Police jurisdiction. Investigators immediately started the investigation and were able to obtain enough evidence to charge Averett. The investigation is ongoing and will continue for quite some time. At last update, the 15 month old was still in critical condition.”

While online records list the official charge as sexual abuse using an inanimate object, the JPD post described the alleged crime as “sexual torture.”

Averett was booked into the Chilton County Jail at 2:44 p.m. on July 18. He was released the next day on bonds totaling $90,000.

Shelby is an unincorporated community in Shelby County south of Columbiana.