Lakeland mother and adult son charged with incest after domestic call

LAKELAND, Fla. — A routine domestic violence call in Polk County uncovered allegations of a years-long incestuous relationship between a mother and her adult son, leading to felony charges against both, authorities said.

Deputies responded in August to a report of an altercation at a residence involving 46-year-old Christina Clemens and her 22-year-old son, Shane Clemens. Christina Clemens told officers that her son had struck her. Shane Clemens was arrested at the scene on a domestic violence battery charge.

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While in custody, Shane Clemens made statements to deputies alleging that he and his mother had engaged in a sexual relationship since he turned 18. When investigators later questioned Christina Clemens, she confirmed the relationship, telling them it had occurred “only about 100 times,” according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

Detectives interviewed Christina Clemens’s husband, who lives in the home. He said he was unaware of any sexual relationship between his wife and her son but had grown suspicious after observing the two go into the master bedroom and lock the door on multiple occasions. Judd described the couple as living together and characterizing their marriage as happy.

Both Christina Clemens and Shane Clemens were charged with incest, a third-degree felony under Florida law. Christina Clemens was also charged with living in open adultery. Shane Clemens faces the additional domestic battery count. Jail records show Shane Clemens was booked Aug. 21 and has been held without bond. Christina Clemens was booked several days later on Aug. 27 and was later released on bond.

In public comments released this week, Judd summarized the investigation and the admissions, stating that the conduct was both illegal and “nasty.” The sheriff noted that adultery remains a chargeable offense in Florida.

Additional investigative details reported in court-related summaries indicate Shane Clemens told deputies the argument that prompted the initial call stemmed in part from frustration with the alleged relationship, which he said had continued for roughly four years at the family home. Christina Clemens is identified as his biological mother on his birth certificate. The allegations have not been tested in court.

The case remains under the jurisdiction of the Polk County court system. Neither defendant has entered a public plea in the incest-related charges as of the latest available records.