Hartselle man charged with sexual abuse

By Staff
A Hartselle man currently stationed at a California Air Force Base was arrested last week in connection with the sexual abuse of a child, a case that also involves a former Morgan County school teacher.
Lt. Zachary W. Mullins, 22, was arrested at Vandenberg Air Force Base and is being held in Santa Barbara Detention Center in California.
Mullins was indicted in July on second degree sodomy, second degree rape and second degree sexual abuse of a child between 12-16. The sodomy and rape charges are both felonies.
The alleged crimes occurred before Mullins joined the United States Air Force.
He is being held on $30,000 bond.
If convicted, Mullins faces a maximum penalty of two to 20 years imprisonment for each of the two charges of second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy, and up to one year imprisonment for the charge of second-degree sexual abuse.
Jessica Heather Defoor is also charged in connection with the case. Defoor is a former second grade teacher at Danville-Neel Elementary School and had been on administrative leave for some time.
Defoor is charged with one count of enticing a child with the intent to propose an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy or other sexual acts and one count of second degree sexual abuse. If convicted she faces up to 10 years in prison.