BY SARAH STEPHENS
OWNER/EDITOR
In April 2019 Steven Sarandon Barnes, received the highest bond in Elmore County that officials can remember, charged with multiple counts including a brutal rape of a then five-year-old girl in Millbrook.
According to Chief Assistant District Attorney C.J. Robinson, Barnes has now officially been indicted by an Elmore County Grand Jury last week. He has remained in the Elmore County Jail since his arrest in 2019.
He is set to have a new court appearance on Feb. 2 in Elmore County relating to the indictment.
Back in 2019 when Barnes appeared before Judge Glenn Goggans on the original charges, he claimed his innocence, saying he would never hurt a child.
Goggans silenced him, explaining they were not in court to hear about his guilt or innocence, but just to make sure he was aware of the charges against him and his options.
Barnes is a Montgomery resident, but had been staying with his girlfriend in Millbrook when the rape was reported. The young child also lived in the home.
This case was investigated by the Millbrook Police Department.
After a request for a higher bond amount from the DA’s Office in 2019, Judge Goggans placed a $10 million cash bond on Barnes, which is why he has remained in jail since his arrest. Originally the bond was set at $106,000.
Back in April of 2019, Barnes began crying and told the Judge he was afraid he was about to be sick after seeing the photos of the bloody clothing taken into evidence that the young victim was apparently wearing when she was brought to Prattville Baptist April 25.
Goggans accepted the DA’s office recommendation and held with the Rape 1st degree charge, Chemical Endangerment of a Child (marijuana was found in the apartment), a marijuana possession charge to first-degree possession and agreed to an Aggravated Child Abuse charge.
Chief Assistant District Attorney CJ Robinson said his office is going after the maximum sentence of life without parole against Steven Barnes.
Robinson said that Barnes had prior convictions, including drug charges, over the past eight years prior tohis arrest for rape.
The reported victim in this case has required multiple surgeries to repair damage. She has also received counseling.
Robinson submitted photos into evidence showing the bloody pajamas the victim was wearing, as well as clothing taken from Barnes when he was arrested.
In addition to charges, Robinson said his office would be seeking life without parole and habitual offender status for Barnes’ previous felonies. He said there is overwhelming evidence in this case.
Judge Goggans said at the time he also wished he could not provide a bond, but set Barnes’ new bond at just over $10 million with all charges against him.
As he was being led out of the courtroom in 2019 Barnes began screaming and cussing at those present, and he was quickly removed.
Barnes charges came about after Millbrook Police responded to Prattville Baptist Hospital with regard to a report of a minor child being sexually assaulted. The child was treated at Prattville Baptist Emergency Room and later transferred to Children’s Hospital, in Birmingham where she underwent surgery.
After court both Robinson and Millbrook Police Chief P.K. Johnson spoke with the media.
Johnson said that in his 32-plus years as a police officer, this case is the worst in his memory.
“I have a granddaughter that is close to this victim’s age and I am just disgusted by all of it,” Johnson told the EAN. “Over time this profession will numb you to certain things. It’s basically a defense mechanism that allows us to see terrible things that we have to see and still be able to function. We have to be able to hold ourselves together, complete our assigned task and at some point we have to go home to our families and not expose them to terrible things like this. That’s a tall order when the victim is an adult, as no one deserves to be treated in such a manner. When the victim is a minor child or an elderly person, it’s even tougher to deal with. We are not immune to these things. We just have to deal with them as best we can and do our jobs.”
As for District Attorney Randall Houston, he simply said, “(Barnes) is a sick bastard.”
We will follow up on this article as the case makes its way through court, and will attend the court date on Feb. 2.
