Suspect allegedly spanked victim

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County deputies arrested a man for allegedly spanking a woman in her home.

Investigators said it took a lot of courage for the woman to come forward. The alleged victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she has known the suspect identified as 41-year-old Joseph Barnes for six years. She said the man was at her house working on her son's car when things turned violent.

"He just grabbed me and threw me on my bed and said he was going to spank me, and it became a wrestling match,” she said.

The victim said a man she trusted forced himself on her in her own home.

"He was trying to get my clothes off, and he had already put hands in places where he shouldn't put hands, and that’s when we were fighting," said the woman.

According to reports, Barnes is twice the size of the victim.

"I think it was really more of a power thing, and I think he thought he could get away with it,” said the woman.

The woman said her 18-year-old son, who was asleep in his room, came to her rescue but she said Barnes wouldn't leave.

She said he even came back the next day taunting her.

According to the victim, Barnes said, ‘Did you miss me?’

Lori Myles with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office said often sexual abuse victims don’t come forward.

"I think he thought she would never say anything, and she would not file charges and we’re very proud she did,” said Myles.

 The Mobile County Sheriff's Office arrested Barnes on February 21 and is now digging through his past.

"We found through our investigation, he had been fired from a previous job for sexual harassment,” said Myles.

Deputies said they are trying to find out if more alleged victims are out there.

That's one of the reasons why the woman said she came forward.

"My friend said ‘What if he gets all the way threw it?’ I was strong enough to fight him, but what if someone isn't. And ‘How could you live with yourself?’ And I thought, ‘I can’t. I have to stop it,” she said.

Barnes is charged with sexual abuse. He has been released from jail on bond.