Blount County man released from jail after 4 years in child’s sexual torture locked up again 2 days later
A Blount County man charged with drugging and sexually torturing a young child was taken back into custody Friday afternoon, two days after he posted bond after four years in jail.
Ronald Shane Crow, 48, was arrested in May 2021 on charges of 13 crimes including sodomy, rape, false imprisonment and chemical endangerment of a 9-year-old girl. He was released from the Blount County Jail on June 18 after posting a $200,000 bond, jail records show.
District Attorney Pamela Casey, who has opposed bond for Crow since his arrest, filed motions seeking revocation of Crow’s bond, which a judge granted, according to court records made public Friday.
Casey, in the filings, said Crow violated numerous conditions of his bond.
Under the bond conditions, Crow was to remain on an ankle monitor, stay with his mother in Trafford, and only leave home for court or medical appointments.
St. Clair Community Corrections notified Casey that Crow went to a BP gas station, Dollar General and Jacks.
Another condition prohibited Crow from having access to social media or to have a cell phone, unless it was a flip phone.
“As soon as he exited our building, he extended his hand to his mother, and she handed him a smart phone that he carried to the car,” a community corrections officer told Casey.
“The allegations contained within the charges put the community at risk (if Crow is allowed to remain out on bond,)” Casey’s motion stated. “He has demonstrated his inability and refusal to abide by the court’s order.”
Concern over Crow’s release promoted the Blount County Sheriff’s Office to release a statement on Facebook earlier this week.
“We understand that releases on bond can raise questions and concerns in the community, but it’s important to note that bond is a legal right and part of the judicial process—not a decision made by the Sheriff’s Office,” the office said in a statement June 18.
“We remain committed to transparency and public safety while respecting the due process rights of all individuals under the law.”
According to charging documents, a girl under the age of 10 was taken to Children’s of Alabama on May 1, 2021, when she showed of drug use after staying at Crow’s home. Once at the hospital, she tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines, according to court records.
The victim, whose relationship to Crow was not disclosed in court documents, told authorities that Crow gave her the controlled substances. She indicated to investigators she had stayed at Crow’s home multiple times at night over a period of time.
During those stays, she said, Crow had both sexual intercourse and oral sex with her. She also described how he sexually assaulted her with an undisclosed object.
At least twice, the victim told investigators, Crow tied her up, put a bag over her head and choked her. “He also placed a gun in the middle of her eyes and told her that would kill her if she told anyone,’’ the affidavit states.
Crow’s trial is set for September.
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