By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A Shelby County Circuit Court judge has denied a sex abuse suspect’s request for a continuation of his case, meaning the case is set to go to trial in mid-September.

Brandon Howard Daniel, who lists an address on Hayesbury Lane in Pelham, originally was set to stand trial at the Shelby County Courthouse Aug. 15 at 8:30 a.m., but his court date was continued until Sept. 12 in late August. Daniel’s trial date had been continued several previous times.

On Aug. 31, Daniel’s attorney, Emory Anthony Jr., requested a continuation of the Sept. 12 trial date, citing a conflict with another case he was handling in Jefferson County.

On Sept. 1, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Lara Alvis denied Anthony’s request to continue the Sept. 12 trial date.

“This court has continued this matter numerous times for both parties,” Alvis wrote in her motion to deny the continuation, noting the case Anthony is handling in Jefferson County is older than Daniel’s case. “The said case is a sex offense, and the state of Alabama will be prejudiced by any further continuances.”

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

Soliciting for the purpose of influencing official action is a Class B felony, and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.

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 Alabaster 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.

In August 2014, the victim in the case filed a lawsuit against Daniel, Shelby County DHR supervisor Rasheda Gulley and Shelby County DHR Director Kim Mashego.

As of Sept. 7, the civil lawsuit was still pending against Daniel and the DHR employees.