A Homeland Security Investigations special agent turned himself in to police after he was accused of raping a child in Alabama, authorities said.
Kent Ian Blacklidge, 43, is facing nine charges, including rape, sodomy, sexual abuse and incest in connection with a minor girl in Baldwin County, according to the Spanish Fort Police Department.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said at a Tuesday, September 8, news conference that Blacklidge’s particular job within HSI was “trying to provide justice for cases involving kids.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents investigate a range of crimes, including child exploitation, human trafficking, fraud and drug smuggling.
“What I understand is that with HSI he was directly involved in child exploitation cases,” Marshall said of Blacklidge. “It’s why it is so profoundly disappointing and frankly disgusting to stand here today and tell you that we now charged him with facts consistent with what his professional responsibility was.”
The charges against Blacklidge were filed in connection with alleged child sexual abuse that occurred in January, according to Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber, who said his department had been investigating an incident involving a juvenile female.
Last week, a Baldwin County grand jury determined there was enough evidence to charge Blacklidge with crimes. He has not yet issued a plea following his indictment.
“His conduct is reprehensible,” Marshall said.
Blacklidge turned himself in to law enforcement on Saturday, September 5, when he was detained at the Baldwin County Jail, police said in a statement.
Blacklidge was released from custody on September 8, per records viewed by Us.
He was held on a $560,000 bond, WPMI-TV reported.
Blacklidge was previously commended at a November 2025 Baldwin County Commission meeting for his efforts in rescuing a child who had reportedly been kidnapped, per the TV station.
HSI has since placed him on administrative leave in connection with the criminal investigation, according to police.
“Without fear or favor, our responsibility in law enforcement is to pursue justice and protect victims of crime, regardless if the perpetrator wears a badge or not,” Barber said in a statement.
At the news conference, Barber said: “It takes an unbelievable amount of courage and strength for a victim of these types of crime to come forward.”
The Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting Blacklidge instead of the local district attorney’s office because he is a witness in multiple Baldwin County cases, according to Marshall.
As part of Blacklidge’s release conditions, he must be electronically monitored, remain at home and avoid contact with the alleged victim and other minors, WKRG-TV reported.
If you know of a young person who is being exploited or is the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at http://tips.fbi.gov/
