By CASSANDRA MICKENS/Associate Editor

COLUMBIANA — A Hoover man has pleaded not guilty to charges of producing child pornography, distributing child pornography and sodomy in Shelby County Circuit Court.

Jason Michael Hankins, 33, entered his not guilty plea before Shelby County Circuit Judge Dan Reeves Feb. 21, according to court records. Hankins was arrested at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Dec. 13, 2013, after a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a Westover residence to take a report of sexual abuse of a minor child. Sheriff’s investigators said in a previous report that there was a pre-existing family relationship between the victim and Hankins.

Hankins posted bond and was released from the Shelby County Jail before the U.S. Marshal’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Hankins again at his Avanti Lane residence Dec. 18.  Hankins also faces six additional charges in connection to a molestation case involving a young female victim in Jefferson County.

Hankins was transported the Jefferson County Jail in Bessemer, where he is being held on bonds totaling $6 million.  Hankins’ most recent charges include first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, production of child pornography, first-degree sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years of age and electronic solicitation of a child.

Hankins is slated to appear again in Shelby County Circuit Court Aug. 4 at 8:30 a.m. for a status call, according to court documents. He was previously slated to appear May 5. The charges in Jefferson County against Hankins have been waived to a grand jury.