Adam Atchley, a 37-year-old man from Grant, Alabama, was arrested on human trafficking charges following a traffic stop in Marshall County on Monday. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies stopped Atchley on Highway 431 near the Marshall/Madison County line around 6 p.m. After verifying Atchley’s identity, they arrested him based on a grand jury indictment.
The investigation into Atchley had been ongoing since July. Initially, he faced charges of transmission of obscene material to a child and electronic solicitation of a child. However, as authorities gathered more evidence, they were able to charge him with human trafficking.
Atchley was indicted on two counts of human trafficking on Friday, one count for a child under 15 and another for the 15-year-old victim. The charges are classified in this way due to the age of the victim, which aligns with the severity of the crime, similar to capital murder charges.
Atchley is currently held without bond in the Marshall County Jail, pending an Aniah’s Law hearing. Theryn Franks from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office expressed relief at the arrest after months of investigation. She also issued a strong message to those involved in crimes against children, promising that they will be found and arrested.
Franks further stated that while one arrest has been made, more are on the horizon, as there are still additional cases under investigation. Atchley’s court date is yet to be scheduled.
