Florida Mom Accused of ‘Incestuous Relationship’ with Adult Son

A bizarre Florida family dispute allegedly exposed a secret sexual relationship between a married mother and her adult son that authorities say lasted for roughly four years.

Christina Clemens, 46, of Lakeland, was arrested after Polk County sheriff’s investigators said she admitted having sex with her biological son, Shane Clemens, 22, approximately 100 times.

The allegations surfaced only after deputies were called to the family home during a domestic dispute in August.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Christina accused Shane of battering her. Shane was arrested, but while deputies were investigating, he allegedly made a startling disclosure.

He told investigators that he had been having sex with his mother since he was 18, according to the sheriff.

Judd later discussed the case during a September 15 morning briefing posted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The original video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGWV52SYBOU

According to accounts of the arrest affidavit, Shane did not grow up with Christina and reconnected with her after reaching adulthood.

Investigators said Shane initially asked Christina to have sex before realizing she was his biological mother. Christina allegedly refused at first because she knew she was his mother.

But authorities say the relationship later became sexual anyway and continued even after Shane knew they were biologically related.

The Smoking Gun, which reviewed the arrest report, reported that Shane told deputies he had become “tired” of the sexual relationship before the domestic dispute that ultimately brought law enforcement to the home.

When investigators confronted Christina with her son’s claims, Judd said she acknowledged the relationship and told authorities it had happened “only about 100 times.”

The allegation has not been proven in court.

Christina was married during the alleged relationship and lived at the Lakeland home with her husband and Shane.

Judd said investigators also questioned Christina’s husband, who told deputies he had not known about the alleged sexual relationship. He reportedly said he had, however, become suspicious after seeing Christina and Shane go into the master bedroom together and lock the door.

The case produced charges that are unusual even by Florida crime-reporting standards.

Investigators initially charged both Christina and Shane with incest. Christina was also charged with living in open adultery, while Shane faced a separate domestic-violence battery allegation stemming from the original dispute.

Florida law makes incest a third-degree felony when someone knowingly has sexual intercourse with a person related by lineal blood relationship, including a parent or child. The law applies regardless of whether both people are adults.

Florida also still has a rarely used law making “living in open adultery” a second-degree misdemeanor.

However, the legal picture has changed since Judd first publicized the arrests.

Court-record reporting indicates prosecutors dropped Shane’s incest charge on September 16, marking it “No Bill.” His domestic-battery matter remained separate. Christina’s incest charge, meanwhile, remained pending, while reporting indicates her adultery count was marked “No Action/Merge.”

Christina was later released from custody under conditions that reportedly prohibit her from having direct or indirect contact with Shane.

Local reporting listed Christina’s arraignment for October 6.

Neither Christina nor Shane has been convicted over the alleged sexual relationship, and the allegations contained in the arrest affidavit remain accusations unless proven in court.