A Red Level resident currently serving in the U.S. Navy was jailed Monday after confessing he raped and sodomized a girl under the age of 12.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks said 19-year-old Robert Joseph Boswell is now charged with first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy – both Class “A” felonies.

“A report was filed with the Covington County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 28, 2007, alleging Boswell had sexual contact with a child under 12,” Meeks said. “It took this long to get him here since he is in the Navy and stationed on the U.S.S. Enterprise in Norfolk, Va.”

Meeks said the investigation, which was headed by Investigator Greg Jackson, “demonstrated that Boswell did indeed have unlawful and inappropriate sexual contact with the female minor child” and ended when Boswell confessed.

While he is charged with crimes locally, Meeks said there is a high probability Boswell will face additional charges after the case is presented to the next grand jury, and could also face military charges.

“Those additional charges will be for exposing a minor child to pornographic material,” he said. “Boswell took leave (from the Navy) to facilitate this interview rather than face the consequences through the Navy’s chain of command; however, the military will make their determination in whether or not they will charge him with violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

“For us, it is unknown if the offense occurred prior to his being activated,” he said.

Boswell has been released on a $60,000 bond. Meeks said Boswell does not have any contact with the minor child, who is currently in a safe environment.