2 men charged with rapes of minors

Published 11:59 pm Thursday, September 10, 2009

Two men have been jailed for allegedly sexually assaulting two minors in separate incidents in Opp, police chief Nickey Carnley said Thursday.

Both incidents were reported to the Opp Police Department Tuesday, he said.

The first allegedly occurred at a local business around 1:45 p.m. Monday morning.

“According to reports, a female minor was raped by a 26-year-old man who was an acquaintance, later identified as John Ashley Weaver of Coquitt, Ga.,” Carnley said. “Interviews were conducted and Weaver was charged with second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy, both Class B felonies.”

Weaver was booked into the Covington County Jail on Tuesday and held under a $40,000 bond.

The second report alleged that sexual abuse involving a child minor occurred during January and February 2009, Carnley said.

“After a suspect was developed, interviews were conducted,” he said. “Afterwards, Freddie O. Tankersley, a 40-year-old resident of Luverne, was arrested Wednesday. He is charged with two counts of second-degree rape and three counts of second-degree sodomy, which are also both Class B felonies.”

Tankersley was transported to the county jail and held under a $100,000 bond.