Accused child molester heads to preliminary hearing
Andrew Belant, accused of child molestation, is headed for a preliminary hearing again, after 26 charges filed against him were dropped Tuesday and a new complaint alleging 22 counts was filed by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office.
At what was scheduled to be a hearing on Attorney Patrik Griego’s motion to dismiss six of the 26 charges, Belant instead pleaded not guilty to each new felony charge and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 7.
Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos originally handled the case, but has since handed it over to Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel, who specializes in prosecuting child sexual abuse cases and was on maternity leave at the time. Gallegos said his office received more information from follow-up investigations and so wrote and filed a new complaint.
Ms. Neal specializes in such cases? Really? Since when? How many has she tried? How many CAST interviews has she attended? What training has Gallegos sent her to?
ReplyDeleteThe last "specialist" PVG appointed to CAST was yougone . . . The DA better make sure his "specialists" get the training and mentoring they deserve.