By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
A Henry County judge on Tuesday set bond at $200,000 for an Abbeville Christian Academy teacher accused of multiple sex-related crimes involving minors months after his original arrest.
According to court proceedings, 54-year-old Rodger Loftin faces four charges connected to alleged electronic solicitation and pornography-related offenses involving teenage boys. Authorities allege Loftin solicited explicit images from children ages 14 and 15.
During a hearing Tuesday in Henry County District Court, Loftin waived his preliminary hearing, moving the case forward to a grand jury for possible indictment later this year. Judge Spencer Danzey set bond at $50,000 for each of the four charges.
Loftin has remained in custody since his arrest on Feb. 24 by agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
According to ALEA, the investigation began after SBI received a tip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Authorities said Loftin was arrested at a residence in Abbeville at approximately 6:30 p.m. following what ALEA described as an ongoing child exploitation investigation.
ALEA announced at the time of Loftin’s arrest that he had been charged with two counts of Possession with Intent to Disseminate Child Sexual Abuse Material and two counts of Electronic Solicitation of a Child. He was later booked into the Henry County Jail.
Court records identified Loftin as a teacher at Abbeville Christian Academy. Following his arrest earlier this year, the school released a bare-bones boilerplate statement saying it was cooperating with investigators. Loftin was fired from his position during the weeks after his arrest.
“We take these allegations very seriously and are fully cooperating with the investigation,” Head of School Heath Whittington said. “Given that this is an active and ongoing investigation, we have no further comments at this time.” The Dale County Chronicle reached out to Heath Whittigton, the head of the school, to ask questions about the school’s background check policy, if there had ever been any complaints against Loftin before his arrest, and other important questions related to safety measures to protect students. Still, we received the following brief response from Whittington: “It is the position of the Board of Trustees that we will not comment.”
His email response also included the following scripture from the Bible: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11.
ALEA said the investigation remains active. The agency also asked anyone with information related to the case, including potential victims, to contact SBI’s Crime Hotline. Authorities said all information provided would be handled confidentially.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office assisted ALEA with the investigation. Once the investigation is complete, the case findings will be turned over to the Henry County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities have not announced whether additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
Rodger Loftin (above) was a teacher at Abbeville Christian Academy until he was terminated following his arrest on multiple child sex solicitation and sexual misconduct charges. Image source: Henry County Jail.
