Authorities have arrested a Dothan man in connection with a forcible rape reported earlier this month near the Wicksburg community.
According to a statement from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a residence along West U.S. Highway 84 on January 12, 2026, after a victim reported being sexually assaulted.
Investigators say the suspect entered the home wearing a mask before committing the assault.
Over the next two weeks, deputies processed evidence and conducted multiple interviews, which ultimately led to the identification of a suspect.
Authorities arrested Joshua Patrick Yance, 28, of Dothan, on January 30, 2026. Yance has been charged with one count of rape in the first degree.
Yance was transported to the Houston County Jail, where he is being held without bond. Officials say the investigation remains ongoing.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
GENEVA COUNTY: 08:07 AM. Geneva County 911 dispatched Fadette Volunteer Fire, Slocomb Fire-Rescue and Malvern Volunteer Fire to a structure fire on Old Fadette Road in Geneva County. Slocomb Fire-Rescue Chief Kyle Hovey requested Rehobeth Fire-Rescue be dispatched to assist.
08:10 AM. Slocomb Fire-Rescue Chief Kyle Hovey arrived on the scene. Chief Hovey reported a working structure fire, smoke and flames visible. An offensive attack is being made.
UPDATED @ 09:25 AM
Units are still on the scene. Geneva County Sheriff Deputies and Geneva County Emergency Management Director Brian Smith are on the scene.
COLUMBIA: One of the kindest men you could ever meet, Mr. Joe Haddock, age 97, of Columbia, entered into the Gates of Heaven last evening.
On Monday, February 2, 2026, Mr. Haddock would have turned age 98. He has been married to his true love, and beautiful wife, Shirley for 71 years. You would think Mr. Joe and Mrs. Shirley were newly weds. They loved each other more every day.
Mr. Haddock helped build the dam at Columbia during his lifetime. When Steve Hardwick was doing fund raisers over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Haddock bought a pound cake for every fundraiser. All in all, Mr. and Mrs. Haddock bought 33 pound cakes from Steve that helped others.
Steve promised Mr. Haddock to bring him a pound cake to him on his 98th birthday on Monday. While Mr. Haddock has gone to heaven, Steve is still going to deliver a pound cake to Mrs. Haddock as he promised to Mr. Joe.
In 2020, Mr. Haddock was honored as 65 years as a Shriner. The Columbia Masonic and Shriners honored Mr. Joe with a fish fry by Bobby Clemmons and other friends. All in all, the Columbia Masonic and Shriners held two fish fry’s for Mr. Joe, One at 50 years and one at 65 years.
A very soft spoken man, friend to all who met him. Mr. Joe listended more than he talked. He would help anyone with any problem.
Heaven gained an angel last evening.
Mr. Haddock helped build the damn at Columbia during his lifetime. When Steve Hardwick was doing fund raisers over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Haddock bought a pound cake for every fundraiser. All in all, Mr. and Mrs. Haddock bought 33 pound cakes from Steve that helped others.
Steve promised Mr. Haddock to bring him a pound cake to him on his 98th birthday on Monday. While Mr. Haddock has gone to heaven, Steve is still going to deliver a pound cake to Mrs. Haddock as he promised to Mr. Joe.
In 2020, Mr. Haddock was honored as 65 years as a Shriner. The Columbia Masonic and Shriners honored Mr. Joe with a fish fry by Bobby Clemmons and other friends. All in all, the Columbia Masonic and Shriners held two fish fry’s for Mr. Joe, One at 50 years and one at 65 years.
A very soft spoken man, friend to all who met him. Mr. Joe listended more than he talked. He would help anyone with any problem.
FROM REHOBETH TO LAKE KISSIMMEE: Rehobeth High School graduate, now at Troy University in Troy, Colton Trotter is an avid bass fisherman. A young man who is very active in the bass fishing circuit and seems to always be fishing in a tournament or about to be all of the time.
He was fishing in Lake Kissimmie. Had string of bad luck in his travels with a tire blow out and lug nuts on the boat trailer. His younger brother is also an avid bass fisherman.
FROM COLTON TROTTER FACEBOOK
Well the first stop of the Bassmaster Opens did not go as planned and we’ve dug ourself a pretty big hole for the next 3 events. Had a fairly good practice but the cold front really affected my fish and just never could seem to locate them during the tournament. Day 1 of the tournament I had the bites to have 14-15lbs including snapping my flipping stick on a 4-5lber, but just couldn’t get them into the boat but that’s fishing sometimes. Also had a grand time on the way home friday including a tire blow out and a snapping all the studs off my hub about 2 hours later. Time to bounce back in the next Open which is on Eufaula in April. On the bright side my man @jlevfishing got some really good pictures and thanks to @austinsawyerfishing for using his boat for the camera boat.
ABBEVILLE – HENRY COUNTY: A pursuit from Abbeville into Headland, south bound on Highway 431 from Henry County 99. Abbeville Police, Henry County Sheriff Deputies, Headland Police, Kinsey Police, Houston County Sheriff Deputies, Dothan Police and ALEA – Troopers.
All units were not involved but were setting up as the chase was southbound on Highway 431. As the chase got close to Henry County Road 22 the vehicle stopped. Sppeds were 45 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour. The vehicle stopped in RODEO parking lot in Headland.
Two persons have been taken into custody. Possible drugs in the vehicle.
HATS OFF to ALEA-Trooper Dispatch, Henry County 911, Houston County 911, and Dothan Police 911 did a great job.
Henry County Sheriff Eric Blankenship is in Washington D.C. and on the radio during the chase with the officers. Sheriff Blankenship is at the National Sheriff Conference.
About 3 1/2 years ago my kids & I was in situation with a landlord that was taking advantage of me and had us living in unsafe circumstance… As a single mom I didn’t know what to do working two jobs struggling to get by with four kids someone introduced me to Blake Bowen. I explained my situation to Blake as he was listening he mentioned that he had a trailer park he had just bought that had some old run down trailers that wasn’t really ready to be lived in but he would do what he could to help me! About 3 weeks later Blake calls me and tells me that he’s got a trailer He’s fixed up to be livable for me and my kids. I paid him the deposit and had no idea how I was going to come up with the first month’s rent Blake with no hesitation told me don’t worry about it Just pay me when you can. Second month rolls around and I’m finally caught up! After renting from Blake all these years and any obstacle that life might have threw at us he is always been the most understanding landlord I’ve ever known! Blake was more than just our landlord though he’d often call my husband Elmer Brown and crack jokes with him how he was the trailer park mayor. Or anytime that a situation happened in the trailer park and he couldn’t get there fast enough he’d call Elmer as backup! He wasn’t just our landlord he became a friend of ours! Shortly after passing the crime scene with no idea of what had happened I got a phone call that shattered my heart! Blake was the most giving caring hard-working person that was the true definition of getting it out of the mud! My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife his two daughters and his mother I can’t imagine how they must feel. I can’t seem to wrap my head around how anyone so heartless could take his life when he literally would have done anything to help them! Rest in peace Blake you will definitely be missed
