By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Sex charges against a former Shelby County Department of Human Resources employee are set for trial, according to documents filed in Shelby County Circuit earlier this month.

In a scheduling order issued on Aug. 4, Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves said discovery had been completed on the charges, and wrote “all relevant pretrial motions (have) been ruled upon.”

“This case is hereby continued generally to await placement on the court’s next available pretrial docket,” Reeves wrote.

Thirty-year-old Pelham resident Brandon Howard Daniel pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting for purpose of influencing official action, indecent exposure, harassment and third-degree theft of property after he was arraigned on the charges in late January.

As of Aug. 14, Daniel had no pending court dates scheduled.

According to his indictments, Daniel, while serving as a DHR employee in August 2013, allegedly told a female client “that if she would have sex with him that he would not take her children away from her.”

Daniel’s harassment charge came when he allegedly threatened to “remove the victim’s children away from her, with the intent to carry out the threat.” His burglary charge came when he allegedly stole a pillow case valued at $10 from the victim’s residence.

Daniel’s arrest came after Alabaster police said the victim filed a complaint claiming Daniel, her DHR case worker, had inappropriate sexual contact with her during a home visit in Alabaster.

On the morning of Aug. 22, 2013, Alabaster and Columbiana officers and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office deputies closed off access to the Shelby County DHR office in Columbiana while police searched the building. Police charged Daniel with the crimes on the afternoon of Aug. 22, and he posted bonds totaling $40,000 the same day.

According to court documents, Daniel is being represented by Birmingham attorney Emory Anthony Jr.