Update: Woman accused of rape and sodomy on teenager held without bond

DALTON, Georgia(WDEF) – A woman is being held without bond after she was arrested for alleged multiple sex crimes against a 16-year old girl.

Shannon Pittman, 41, is facing several sexual assault charges including strong-armed rape and sodomy, but she may not be the only person facing similar charges in this case.

As a disclaimer, News 12 is obligated to protect the identity of the minor who was allegedly assaulted so several facts and details are not included in this news article.

According to the arrest affidavit, the teenager was sexual assaulted inside a residence on Haigmill Road in Dalton. The victim told her parent that Pittman got her drunk by giving her heavy liquor. Then she said Pittman sexually assaulted her.

News 12 contacted the Rape Crisis Center in Chattanooga to ask if it’s common to see or hear about rape cases involving a woman being accused of sexual assault against another female.

"I think that is not typically what we see in sexual assault offenses. We do see that an over whelming majority of sex offenders are male, and that’s a national average according to the department of justice. About 80-percent of offenders are adults, 20-percent are juvenile and as for overall offenders; 95-percent are male," said Rape Crisis Center Supervisor Caroline Huffaker.

But there’s another bizarre twist to this story; according to the arrest affidavit, Pittman’s husband was in on the crime and even took part in the alleged assault.

According to Whitfield County jailers, Pittman’s husband has not been arrested. It’s unclear as to why he has not been taken into custody.

As for the teen, experts say she will need a lot of help to move forward with her life.

"When you come forward and get support from a center like ours, you’re able to to do the healing and move forward; that’s necessary to get past something like a sexual assault," Huffaker said.