Former Pocahontas County Deputy Pleads Not Guilty

Former Pocahontas County Sheriff's Deputy Bradley Totten, 40, of Hillsboro, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Wednesday after being named in a 12-count grand jury indictment last month accusing him of sexually abusing and assaulting teenage girls and a woman while they were in police custody. The indictment says two of the female victims were 13 at the time of the alleged sexual abuse, two others were 15 and a fifth victim was a 27-year-old woman. Investigators believe Totten used his power and position to commit the crimes over a several year period. Circuit Judge Jim Rowe scheduled a trial for July 25th and set bail at $50,000. The case is being prosecuted by Special Prosecutor Brian Parsons of Fayette County.