An Atmore man is behind bars facing a variety of sex crime charges following a grand jury indictment.  Perry Buckhault, 57, of Hendrix Emmons Road, turned himself in to authorities last week and was booked on charges stemming from allegations of crimes against a child under the age of 12.

Charges against Buckhault include first-degree sodomy, sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 and failure to appear.

Escambia County Investigator Eric Hartselle, assigned to the Escambia

County Child Advocacy Center, said the charges were presented during a recent grand jury session and an arrest writ was issued.

“We first received a report of the suspected abuse in mid-August,”Hartselle said. “We began conducting an investigation and gathered evidence that was presented to the grand jury.”

Hartselle said the three-year-old victim in the case underwent a forensic interview by staff members at the Child Advocacy Center as a result of the allegations.

“We presented our findings to the grand jury and the case was given a true bill,” Hartselle said. “As a result, a grand jury writ for the suspect’s arrest was issues.”

According to officials with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department, Buckhault surrendered to law enforcement officers Dec. 8 and was immediately taken into custody at the Escambia County Detention Center.

Buckhault remains behind bars on a $250,000 bond for the charges.