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Belmont man enters not guilty plea in alleged sex assault
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DARLINGTON - A 46-year-old Belmont man pleaded not guilty Monday in Lafayette County Circuit Court to charges accusing him of causing a minor to view sexual activity and exposing his genitals to a minor.

Johnny F. Brandt is charged with one Class H felony count of causing a minor to view sexual activity and two Class I felonies, one for exposing his genitals to a minor and for exposing a child to harmful material.

Court records indicate that on Dec. 15, Brandt and a 22-year-old man from Belmont were involved in sexual activity with a teen-aged boy at the victim's request, Brandt told police. Brandt said he never touched the victim but did expose himself to the minor. Brandt also told police that pornography was playing during the alleged sexual assault.

The co-defendant in this case, Cole Martioski, allegedly attempted to be sodomized by the victim. Martioski faces a misdemeanor charge of sexual relations with a child age 16 or older, and Class I felonies of exposing his genitals to a child and exposing a child to harmful material. He has an arraignment hearing set on Monday.

Brandt alleged the victim was drunk and/or high on marijuana during the assault. The victim told police he did not want to press charges against Brandt or Martioski because he gave consent. The victim admitted to police that he was inebriated during the assault.