By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – An 84-year-old former Alabaster physician who is facing charges alleging he produced child pornography is set to stand trial on the charges in early November, according to a scheduling document filed in Shelby County Circuit Court in late August.

Dr. Ruepert Bryan, who lists an address on Kensington Manor Drive in Calera, has been indicted on three felony counts of producing child pornography and one felony count of first-degree sexual abuse, and is set to stand trial on the charges beginning on Nov. 5.

He must appear in court for a pre-trial docket call on Sept. 24, and must appear in court for a plea date on Oct. 30.

“No continuances will be granted except for extreme circumstances,” read the scheduling order.

Bryan, who previously worked as an ear, nose and throat doctor in Alabaster, faces up to life in prison if he is convicted on the production of child pornography charges, and faces up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted of the sexual abuse charge.

According to his arrest warrants, Bryan allegedly produced obscene matter of a person under the age of 17 including “breast nudity, sodomy, sexual abuse and other sexual conduct” on Jan. 1, 2002.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2002, Bryan’s arrest warrants allege he produced more obscene matter containing similar content.

Bryan has remained in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $500,000 since his 2016 arrest.