An Air Force officer accused of sex crimes that allegedly occurred more than three years ago is back in Morgan County after his arrest in California.

Authorities booked Lt. Zachary Mullins, 22, of Hartselle into Morgan County Jail on Monday and released him on $30,000 bail the same day, according to jail records.

Investigators arrested Mullins on a Morgan County grand jury indictment Oct. 21 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, where he was stationed.

Mullins faces second-degree sodomy, second-degree rape and second-degree sexual abuse charges stemming from the incident authorities said occurred at the Decatur home of a Danville-Neel Elementary school teacher.

Teacher charged

The mother of the minor female victim reported Mullins and teacher Jessica Heather Defoor inappropriately touched her daughter in February 2006.

Defoor was charged with second-degree sexual abuse and enticing a child under 16 with lascivious intent to propose an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy or other sexual acts.

Defoor has been on paid administrative leave from her job as a second-grade teacher at Danville-Neel Elementary since early in the 2007-08 school year.

TIFFENY HURTADO