By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A former Shelby County Department of Human Resources employee who is facing allegations of sex crimes is now set to stand trial in Shelby County Circuit Court in October after his original September trial date was continued.

Brandon Howard Daniel, who lists an address on Hayesbury Lane in Pelham, was set to stand trial at the Shelby County Courthouse beginning on Sept. 12 at 8:30 a.m., but his court date was continued until Oct. 17. Daniel’s trial date has been continued several previous times.

The continuation until October came after Circuit Court Judge Lara Alvis originally denied a request from Daniel’s attorney, Emory Anthony Jr., to continue the trial beyond Sept. 12.

On Sept. 1, Anthony said he had scheduling conflict with the Sept. 12 trial, as he was handling another case in Jefferson County.

After initially denying the continuance request, Alvis continued the trial until October after the prosecution and defense attorneys agreed on the matter.

“The case is a special priority setting and will be the first case tried during the October jury week,” Alvis wrote in a scheduling order filed on Sept. 9.

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. 15, the civil lawsuit was still pending against Daniel and the DHR employees.