An Athens man accused in 2015 of sexually abusing and sodomizing a 6-year-old child is asking the court to grant him youthful offender status.

If given, the man could quality for a lighter sentence and notification requirements.

Chad Avery-Thomas Scott, 20, of 16772 Seven Mile Post Road, is scheduled to appear for the hearing at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Limestone County Courthouse before Limestone County Circuit Judge Chadwick Wise.

Scott was first arrested Aug. 26, 2015, on charges of first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse of a child under 12, both felonies. A grand jury later indicted him on the charges.

Scott is accused of having sexual contact with the girl between April and June at a home on Seven Mile Post Road.

A sheriff’s official told The News Courier in 2015 the child told a school employee about the possible sexual contact and a school official reported it to the Department of Human Resources. Following an investigation that included an interview by the Child Advocacy Center, Limestone County Sheriff’s Investigator Emily Lewter obtained a warrant for Scott and arrested him on the charges.

If Scott is granted youthful offender status and convicted on the charges, he would be treated as a juvenile sex offender under Alabama Code 15-20A-35. He would still have to register as a sex offender with law enforcement but other notification would follow Alabama Code 15-20A-26 through 15A-20A-34.

The code says court officials will determine the level of risk posed by the offender and who should be notified of his or her offense.

If the risk of re-offense is low, local law enforcement will provide the offender’s address and other information to the principal of the school the offender will attend after release. The information will be considered confidential by the school and be shared only with the teachers and staff with supervision over the juvenile sex offender.

If the risk of re-offense is moderate, law enforcement will provide the offender’s address and information to all schools and childcare facilities within three miles. A community notification flyer will be mailed by regular mail or hand delivered to all schools or childcare facilities. No other method may be used to disseminate this information.

If the court finds the risk of re-offense is high, the public shall receive notification as though the juvenile sex offender were an adult sex offender in accordance with Alabama Code, Section 15-20A-21.

The determination of notification by the sentencing court cannot be be appealed.