By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 32-year-old former Shelby County Department of Human Resources employee who is accused of using his position to coerce a woman to perform sex acts on him is set to stand trial in August, according to court documents.

Brandon Howard Daniel, who lists an address on Hayesbury Lane in Pelham, originally was set to stand trial at the Shelby County Courthouse on June 13, but his trial date has been reset to Aug. 15 at 8:30 a.m., read a court order issued on June 30.

Daniel has 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 July 5, the civil lawsuit was still pending against Daniel and the DHR employees.