A former DeKalb County, Alabama, reserve deputy has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to a felony sodomy charge connected to a 2024 investigation. Joshua Wells, who once served part-time with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, will spend 12 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Wells was originally arrested in July 2024 after allegations surfaced involving multiple victims. At the time of his arrest, he was a reserve deputy who was still completing his law enforcement certification. According to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, a formal complaint triggered an internal review, and Wells was terminated from the agency immediately following the allegations.

A grand jury later indicted Wells on 12 counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Prosecutors said the charges involved inappropriate sexual contact with minors, and the investigation included interviews with victims and forensic evidence reviewed by state authorities.

As part of a plea agreement, Wells pleaded guilty in November 2025 to second-degree sodomy, and the remaining charges were dismissed. The agreement allowed the victims to avoid lengthy testimony while still securing a felony conviction and lengthy prison sentence.

In addition to the 12-year sentence, Wells is now required to register as a sex offender upon release and is prohibited from any contact with the victims. The court also outlined long-term supervision conditions that will remain in place after his incarceration.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office released a statement earlier in the investigation confirming that Wells was not a full-time certified deputy and was serving only in a reserve capacity. Officials stressed that once the complaint was received, he was immediately removed from duty and the matter was turned over to state investigators.

Wells’ conviction closes a case that spanned more than a year and drew significant attention in DeKalb County and surrounding communities.