An Opp man is facing multiple sex abuse charges, including incest and rape, after being accused of molesting female relatives over a three-year period.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks said the investigation against 41-year-old Neville Eric Wilkerson began Jan. 6. It is alleged the abuse has been ongoing since 2009.

Meeks declined to state the number of victims or their relationship to Wilkerson, due to the their age.

“Our county, and (the sheriff’s office) is not going to tolerate those who predate upon the children of this county – whether it’s a male or female,” Meeks said. “This case, as well all sex abuse cases and especially those involving children, is given top priority.

“Investigator Jerry Fields should be commended in the way he pursued this case on behalf of the victims,” he said. “(Fields) spent several hours investigating this case, and we feel confident it will end with a conviction.”

Wilkerson was initially placed in the county jail Tuesday afternoon and held without bond on a sodomy charge. Wednesday morning, the charges were increased to include rape II, sodomy II, sodomy I, sexual abuse II, incest and sexual abuse of a child under 12. He remains incarcerated in the Covington County Jail under a $1.35 million bond.

Meeks declined to comment further on the case, as it remains under investigation.