Defendant pleads not guilty to sex abuse
Brittany Brevik | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 3 months AGO
The sixth man charged with sexual abuse of children following an online sex sting was arraigned Thursday morning in Flathead County District Court.
Daniel Anthony Hall, 33, of Kalispell pleaded not guilty before Judge Heidi Ulbricht.
According to court documents, an agent from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force posted an online ad indicating that a young woman was available for sex.
Hall allegedly answered the ad, saying he was 33 and interested in assisting a 12-year-old girl in “how to become a woman.”
Hall then allegedly began communicating with the undercover agent via text message, sending graphic sexual messages and expressing interest in meeting the girl.
Court documents state that when Hall was given an address to meet the girl, he went there and was confronted by officers.
Hall will appear in court Jan. 14, 2015, for an omnibus hearing; a jury trial is slated to begin March 2.
Five other men arrested in the online sting — Karl Cilroy Wortley, 34, Kalispell; Joshua Fredrick Naethe, 36, Somers; Benjamin David Emrich, 32, Kalispell; Justin Allen Zeiss, 34, Kalispell; and Christopher Paul Adams, 37, Kalispell — pleaded not guilty last week.
All are charged with felony sexual abuse of children.
All six remain jailed with their bail set at $100,000 each. The men were arrested over a four-day period starting on Aug. 18.
Reporter Brittany Brevik may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at [email protected].
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