WHAS11 coverage

(WHAS11) - Wednesday in Shepherdsville, Bullitt County sheriff’s detectives arrested a man for the rape and sodomy of a 16-year-old boy.

Now the victim’s mother is speaking out in hopes someone else’s child won’t become victim of a predator.

Investigators say this case fits the pattern of so many pedophile cases in that it’s often not a stranger, but a relative, a friend or in this case, they believe a neighbor.  He allegedly pretended to show interest in a young boy but had another goal in mind.

It was a week ago cops cited the occupant of a Shepherdsville trailer home for growing marijuana but cops would soon learn of something more ominous; reports of a 16-year-old boy allegedly raped inside, leaving his mother in anguish.

 Detectives with the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Department arrested 48-year-old Ricky Barr of Shepherdsville—charging him with one count of rape and another count of sodomy.

Investigators believe that Barr, who lived near the youngster, cultivated a friendship to gain the trust of the teen described by his mom as mentally impaired.

Barr is expected to be arraigned on the charges Thursday.