An Andalusia man was jailed Monday on allegations he raped an 11-year-old girl in November.

Rickey Lashawn Daniels, 29, is charged with one count of first-degree rape as a result of the alleged incident, Capt. Mike Bowlan of the Andalusia Police Department said Tuesday.

“This is a case we’ve been working on since Nov. 20, 2008, when it was first reported by the victim and her mother,” Bowlan said. “We had to collect biological evidence, or DNA, and forward it to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for testing. Until (Monday), that’s where it sat, waiting on the results.”

Bowlan said as soon as the results were received, Daniels was taken into custody where he remains in the Covington County Jail under a $200,000 bond.

“I think that as parents and as law enforcement officers we all feel as if it’s our duty to protect our children and their innocence,” Bowlan said. “Oftentimes we tell our children to say no to strangers and to report to us instances where there may have been inappropriate touches or uncomfortable situations.

“And sometimes most adults would believe other adult’s word over a child because it may be believed that the child had made up this claim,” he said. “This case is a perfect example of why it’s very important to listen to our youth and put faith in what they have to say.

“I have no doubt there are cases like this that slip through the cracks,” he said. “On one side we have a victim and on the other, a suspect who is innocent until proven guilty, but I can tell you that we will not tolerate this type of behavior. Period.”