A Valley Grande man turned himself in Thursday after being charged for the alleged sexual abuse a child.

According to Capt. Mike Granthum with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, 32-year-old Christopher Hobson was charged with first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12.

“We had reports from a family member of the victim that this may have occurred, and we investigated it,” Granthum said. “The Child Advocacy Center helped us with some interviews and stuff, and some of the stuff that happened, we have substantiated it and know it to be true.”

After turning himself in, Hobson was booked under a $500,000 bond. He has since bonded out.

“This is one of the worst things you can do is to perpetrate on a young child, a defenseless child, a child that can’t defend themselves and really don’t know right from wrong at an early age,” he said.

Granthum said the abuse was allegedly ongoing for a few years before the child told family members.

“We found out that it started several years ago, approximately three to five years ago,” he said. “The child was even younger at the time. The child got to the age where he could determine right from wrong on his own, and he came forward and reported it to a family member.”

Granthum said the child was a friend of the family, and there is a possibility of more victims and additional charges coming.

“It could be possible due to his contact with other young children. There could be more victims out there who haven’t come forward, and we encourage them to do so,” Granthum said. “We’re not saying there is, but it’s possible because he is around small kids quite often, and they just may not have the courage or what it takes to come forward yet.”

Granthum said sometimes crimes like these are not reported, but he encourages any other possible victims to come forward.

“It’s a crime that often goes unreported. A lot of times different circumstances, especially if the subject is the same gender, a lot of times it is not reported due to the fact of embarrassment or they’re afraid of what’s going to happen,” Granthum said. “It’s important for people to come forward with it.”

Granthum said he expects Hobson to make his first appearance in court next week.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department at 334-874-2530.