Former police officer accused of raping and sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Tonight, a former Bayou La Batre police officer was indicted on charges of rape and sexual abuse.

According to the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office, 38-year-old William “BJ” Squires faces four felonies: first-degree rape by force, second-degree rape of a victim 12 to 16 years old, sexual abuse by force and second-degree rape of a victim 12 to 16 years old, sexual abuse by force and second-degree rape -degree sexual abuse of a victim 12 to 16 years old.

District Attorney Keith Blackwood said this all happened in Mobile almost 20 years ago.

“These charges stem from an incident brought to our attention that occurred during the 2005-2006 school year involving a victim who was 14 years old at the time,” Blackwood said. “BJ Squires was over 18 years of age at the time, hence the alternate counts of forcible rape and sexual abuse, and sexual abuse of a minor.”

On September 25 Squires’ home was searched after Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said he was facing allegations of sexual misconduct with underage girls.

That same day, FOX10 News spoke for the first time Gen. Williamswho said his daughter was a victim of Squires in 2009.

Williams told me that his daughter was targeted by Squires after he allegedly asked his daughter for lewd photos of herself. Then charges were filed in 2009, but Squires was never charged in the case.

Today, Williams sat down with me and described the emotions he felt after hearing that Squires was finally behind bars.

“My very first reaction, emotion, was elation,” Williams said. “Finally, after sixteen years of fighting and trying to stand in that gap. But after I heard the details, I would say that those details sickened me because our, I think our commitment to our case, in taking it on so early, prevented what happened, and so I was sickened by the events that some of these victims had experienced. had to endure. But then I felt even more sickened when I realized that even my case didn’t have to take place in 2009, knowing that this was before 2005. This man should have been treated in 2005.”

He said he hopes to send a message to not only the victims, but also to their fathers.

“First and foremost, I would like to apologize to the victims,” he said. “It didn’t have to happen, it should never have happened, in a place and in a community where you feel safe. If you’re out there and this happened to you because of this specific thing or something else, because come on, I’m not so naive to sit here and say this is the only predator we have in our city. Now we are heard. Don’t be afraid to come forward and make your case. Fathers, as much as you want to take control and exact revenge, let Sheriff Burch and District Attorney Blackwood handle this. Play it by the book, and these guys are in control. They have our best interest, the best interest of the community and that of our daughter.”

Squires has not been charged in Williams’ 2009 case, but Blackwood said they continue to look into it.

Squires’ bond was set at $110,000. He has since been released from prison on bail.