Florida Mother and Son Charged With Incest After Domestic Call

Domestic Complaint Led to Additional Allegations

A Florida mother and her adult son were both charged with incest after a domestic violence call led deputies to investigate their relationship, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Christina Clemens, 46, called authorities and accused her 22-year-old son, Shane Clemens, of hitting her during a dispute, CBS Miami reported. Deputies arrested Shane Clemens on a domestic violence battery allegation.

During the investigation, the sheriff’s office said Shane told deputies he had also been involved in a sexual relationship with his mother since he was 18.

Deputies Interviewed Both Family Members

Sheriff Grady Judd said detectives questioned Christina Clemens after her son disclosed the alleged relationship. According to Judd, she also acknowledged the relationship.

CBS Miami reported that Christina’s husband told investigators he had not known about the sexual relationship. He said he had noticed the mother and son spending time behind a locked bedroom door but did not know why.

Authorities said both Christina and Shane were charged with incest. Christina also faces an adultery charge, while Shane faces the separate domestic violence battery allegation tied to the original call.

The Alleged Relationship Involved Two Adults

The incest allegations concern conduct authorities say occurred after Shane was 18.

The relevant legal development is that a domestic complaint exposed allegations of a separate offense that deputies say had been occurring for years.

Neither defendant has been convicted of the incest charges. The allegations must be proven in court.

Bond Status Differed After the Arrests

People reported that Christina was held on a $5,250 bond. Shane was being held without bond in connection with the domestic violence battery and incest allegations.

The sheriff’s office publicized the case after the arrests. The investigation began with the alleged battery call rather than an independent incest complaint.

That sequence is what distinguishes the case procedurally: one family member asked deputies to investigate alleged violence, and the response produced charges against both of them.

Court Proceedings Will Determine the Outcome

The charges remain pending. Prosecutors will have to establish the elements of each offense based on admissible evidence and statements.

The domestic violence allegation against Shane and the incest allegations against both defendants are separate legal matters arising from the same law-enforcement response.

Sheriff’s Office Publicized the Alleged Admission

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office released details of the case after the arrests, including statements investigators say both defendants made about the relationship. CBS Miami and People reported those allegations from the sheriff’s account.

The essential sequence is that Christina reported an alleged battery, Shane disclosed the incest allegation after his arrest and detectives then questioned other family members.

Authorities said Christina’s husband told deputies he had not known the nature of the relationship. His account became part of the investigation but he is not accused of wrongdoing.

Future court filings will determine which statements and evidence prosecutors seek to use against each defendant.

Separate Charges Carry Different Legal Questions

The incest allegations and the domestic battery allegation did not arise in the same way. The battery complaint came first, when Christina asked deputies to respond to the dispute. The incest allegations followed after investigators interviewed Shane and then questioned Christina.

Prosecutors therefore will have to prove separate elements for each charge rather than treating the arrest as one combined offense. The sheriff’s public statements describe what investigators say the defendants admitted, but those statements still must meet ordinary evidentiary rules in court.

The case also includes Christina’s adultery charge, which CBS Miami reported was filed in addition to incest. That count is separate from the charges against Shane and from the original domestic violence allegation.

References: Florida mom and son charged with incest after having sex “about 100 times,” sheriff says