A routine domestic violence investigation in Lakeland, Florida, took a deeply unsettling turn when deputies learned that the dispute had allegedly exposed a secret relationship inside the family home. What began with a mother’s report that her adult son had allegedly struck her soon became an incest investigation involving Christina Clemens, 46, and her son, Shane Clemens, 22.

The allegations came to light through statements investigators said were made during the investigation. Sheriff Grady Judd later described the case publicly, including claims about how long the alleged relationship had continued and what Christina’s husband told deputies about the couple’s behaviour inside the home.

The Lakeland domestic violence call that changed the investigation

The case began with a domestic violence call involving Christina and Shane Clemens.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Christina told deputies that Shane had allegedly struck her. Deputies arrested Shane in connection with the alleged domestic battery.

At that stage, the investigation concerned an apparent dispute between a mother and her adult son. But according to Judd’s account, the situation changed after Shane became angry about his arrest and volunteered another piece of information to authorities.

Judd later recalled Shane telling deputies:

“Well, I’ll tell you what, I’ve been having sex with my mama since I was 18 years old.”

The statement prompted investigators to look beyond the original domestic violence allegation and question Christina about what Shane had claimed.

That conversation would become central to the subsequent incest investigation.

Family-related allegations aren’t the only disturbing cases making headlines — a resurfaced 2025 case in Massachusetts has just resulted in new charges. For more, read our report on Clavicular Charged With Rape and Drugging in Massachusetts as 2025 Cape Cod Allegations Resurface.

Christina allegedly acknowledged the relationship

Investigators reportedly asked Christina about Shane’s allegation and whether the alleged relationship had begun after he turned 18.

According to Sheriff Judd, Christina acknowledged the allegation.

Her reported response was:

“Only about 100 times.”

Judd later emphasized the statement while discussing the case publicly, saying:

“I didn’t stutter.”

Those statements, as described by the sheriff, became part of the law-enforcement account behind the incest allegations involving the mother and son.

The precise circumstances of the alleged relationship are not necessary to establish the central facts of the case. Most importantly, the allegations remain allegations and should not be treated as a judicial finding of guilt.

Sheriff Grady Judd later explained how the alleged secret emerged

On September 15, 2026, Sheriff Judd discussed the case in a social-media video.

His explanation focused on the unusual sequence that led deputies from the original domestic violence call to the alleged incest relationship.

Judd said:

“So he got mad because she called and we arrested him for hitting mama. And then he said, ‘Well, I’ll tell you what, I’ve been having sex with my mama since I was 18 years old.’”

According to the sheriff, detectives then investigated the allegation and questioned the people involved.

Judd also addressed the alleged domestic violence incident itself, saying:

“Shane, you ought not to ever lay a hand on your mama for a lot of reasons, but you have one more reason why you shouldn’t.”

That comment was made in the context of the allegations described by the sheriff and does not establish any additional criminal finding.

The case therefore developed along two separate but connected tracks: the original domestic violence allegation and the much more serious allegations that emerged during the investigation.

Domestic violence calls have a way of exposing more than expected — a Florida-based YouTuber’s own domestic dispute recently landed him back in custody. For more, see our coverage of Jack Doherty Arrested Again in Florida: YouTuber Faces Domestic Battery Charge After Police Respond to Fort Lauderdale Dispute.

Christina’s husband said he was unaware of the alleged relationship

Investigators also questioned Christina’s husband as they tried to establish what he knew about the alleged relationship between Christina and Shane.

According to Sheriff Judd’s account, the husband said he believed he and Christina were happily married. He also said he had not known about the alleged sexual relationship involving his wife and her son.

Judd asked him:

“Were you aware that your wife was having sex with her son?”

The husband responded:

“No, I absolutely was not. But I think I am a little suspicious that they used to go in the master bedroom and lock the door.”

The statement formed part of investigators’ effort to determine what the husband knew about the allegations.

It does not establish that he had knowledge of the alleged relationship before authorities became involved.

That distinction matters because the husband’s reported suspicions about behaviour inside the home are not the same as evidence that he knew about the alleged relationship.

Christina faced incest and adultery-related charges

The investigation resulted in additional criminal charges against Christina.

According to reporting based on law-enforcement information and jail records, Christina faced an incest charge and a charge relating to living in open adultery.

The adultery-related charge is separate from the incest allegation and concerns Florida’s applicable criminal statute.

Christina’s husband was reportedly unaware of the alleged relationship, according to the sheriff’s account.

Judd summarized his reaction to the allegations by saying:

“What else can you say? That’s nasty. And it’s illegal.”

That statement reflects the sheriff’s response to the allegations and should not be confused with a judicial determination of guilt.

Key details in the case

Detail	Reported information
Location	Lakeland, Florida
Mother	Christina Clemens, 46
Son	Shane Clemens
Investigation began	Domestic violence call
Original allegation	Christina reported that Shane had allegedly struck her
Shane’s reported statement	He allegedly said the sexual relationship began when he was 18
Christina’s reported response	“Only about 100 times.”
Sheriff discussing case publicly	September 15, 2026
Christina’s charges	Incest and living-in-open-adultery-related offense
Shane’s reported charges	Domestic violence battery allegation; incest charge status later differed in reporting
Christina’s custody status	Released after posting bond
Court status	Ongoing; allegations not established as convictions

Shane’s incest charge later became a point of uncertainty

Shane’s original arrest was connected to the alleged domestic violence incident involving his mother.

Reports said he faced a domestic violence battery charge in addition to the incest allegation.

However, the status of Shane’s incest charge later became less straightforward.

Oxygen reported on September 17 that the incest charge against Shane was listed as dropped in court records, while other reports continued to describe him as facing the charge.

Because criminal court records can change as a case develops, the status of an individual charge should not be treated as a final determination without reference to the latest court docket.

The domestic violence allegation and the incest allegation should likewise be kept separate when describing the case.

Christina was released after posting bond

Christina was released from custody in early September after posting bond.

The initial reporting supplied by VT listed a $5,250 bond, while later reporting based on jail records gave different totals depending on which charges and records were included.

For that reason, the supplied information does not support describing Christina as remaining in jail.

Later reporting also indicated that a judge imposed restrictions concerning contact between Christina and Shane while the case proceeded.

Those restrictions were part of the ongoing legal process and do not determine the eventual outcome of the criminal allegations.

The case remains unresolved in court

The most important fact to keep in view is that an arrest or criminal charge does not equal a conviction.

The alleged relationship was uncovered during an investigation that began with a domestic violence call. Sheriff Judd publicly described what investigators said they learned, while the reported statements from Christina and Shane form part of the law-enforcement account of the case.

The eventual legal outcome must be determined through the courts.

The case has attracted substantial attention because of the alleged conduct involving close family members and because the investigation reportedly began with a separate domestic dispute. Yet the available information does not establish a final judicial finding regarding all of the allegations.

What authorities have reported

The sequence described by law enforcement and the supplied reporting can be summarized clearly:

• Deputies responded to a domestic violence call in Lakeland, Florida.
• Christina Clemens reported that her son had allegedly struck her.
• Shane Clemens was arrested in connection with the domestic violence allegation.
• According to Sheriff Judd, Shane then told deputies that he and his mother had been involved in a sexual relationship since he was 18.
• Investigators questioned Christina about the allegation.
• According to Judd, Christina acknowledged the relationship and said it had occurred “only about 100 times.”
• Investigators questioned Christina’s husband.
• He said he had not known about the alleged relationship, although he said he had been somewhat suspicious because Christina and Shane sometimes went into the master bedroom and locked the door.
• Christina was charged with incest and an offense relating to living in open adultery.
• Shane faced the domestic violence battery allegation, while reporting about the status of his incest charge differed as the case progressed.
• Christina was released from custody after posting bond.
• Later reporting indicated that a judge imposed restrictions concerning contact between Christina and Shane.

Cases involving ongoing legal trouble aren’t limited to this one — a separate investigation has brought a repeat offender back into custody after new reports. For more, dive into our story on “Engaging in Lewd Behavior”: Serial Offender Calese Crowder Back in Custody Following Store Reports.

Conclusion

What began as a domestic violence investigation in Lakeland ultimately exposed allegations that authorities said involved a secret sexual relationship between Christina Clemens and her adult son, Shane Clemens. According to Sheriff Grady Judd, Shane’s own reported statement led investigators to question Christina, who allegedly confirmed the relationship and described it as having occurred “only about 100 times.”

Christina subsequently faced incest and adultery-related charges, while Shane faced the domestic violence allegation and a reported incest charge whose status later differed across reporting. Christina’s husband told investigators he had not known about the alleged relationship, although he described behaviour that had made him suspicious.

The case remains a criminal matter rather than an established finding of guilt. Arrests, charges, allegations and statements made during an investigation do not determine the final outcome, which remains for the courts to resolve.

Source and research disclaimer

This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided with the original material, including reporting from CBS Miami, PEOPLE, Oxygen, India Today and NDTV, along with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office social-media statement as reported by those outlets. The article reflects the information available from those supplied sources and preserves the distinctions between allegations, law-enforcement statements, reported court-record information and established legal findings. It should not be understood as independent verification beyond the information contained in those sources.

Sources

• CBS Miami: Florida mom and son charged with incest
• PEOPLE: Florida mother and son charged with incest and adultery
• Oxygen: Florida mom allegedly admits to relationship with adult son
• India Today: Florida incest case involving Christina and Shane Clemens
• NDTV: Florida woman and son incest investigation
• Polk County Sheriff’s Office social-media statement, as reported by CBS Miami and other outlets

Featured Image Credit: Polk County Sheriff’s Office