A Birmingham man has been arrested in connection with an alleged incident in Henegar that occurred last month.

Dekalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris says 26-year old John Alexander Ballard was discovered in a parked car with a 14 year old female by Henagar Police Department early in the morning of March 29th.

Investigators have since determined Ballard was in contact with the young female after meeting on an Internet website.

Ballard continued communicating with the young girl on the Internet and by text and arranged to meet her in DeKalb County.

After obtaining further evidence in this case, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Investigators obtained warrants for Ballard. Ballard was arrested by Birmingham Police Department on April 4 and transported back to DeKalb County Detention Center by deputies.

Ballard is in the DeKalb County Detention Center on charges of Rape 2nd, Sodomy 2nd, Interference with custody, and Enticing a child to enter a vehicle for immoral purposes. Bonds have been set totaling $55,000 on these charges.

As always the Child Advocacy Center team, DA’s Office, and DHR worked with the sheriff’s department as they assisted the girl’s family in getting the proper medical treatment and interviewing done.

Harris says this could have been a deadly encounter, adding you never know who you are talking with on the internet.