Rainsville, AL - DeKalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris says a high profile business owner in Rainsville has turned himself in on rape charges.
Keary Chandler is the owner of the Rainsville Funeral Home. Until last week, he was running for Coroner of DeKalb County. He suddenly announced he was dropping out last Thursday, citing "personal reasons".
According to Sheriff Harris, Chandler was charged with 2nd Degree Rape based on a complaint filed earlier this year. The alleged incident happened 25 years ago, and involves Chandler engaging in a sex act with a 12 year old female. Chandler was 25 years old at the time of the incident.
Sheriff Jimmy Harris says, "it wasn't actually forcible. It was a consent, but she was a child. But a child can't consent to that. So that's the reason it is 2nd degree rape."
According to the Sheriff, Chandler taught a Sunday school group that included students between 11 and 13 years old. The alleged victim was one of them.
"Rape is like arson and murder. The statute never runs out. It's always there regardless if it's 5 years old or 50 years old. It's always there. It never goes away," said Harris.
Chandler is free on bond. The case remains under investigation.
