NEW BOSTON, Texas -- Bail was reduced to $250,000 following a hearing Tuesday for a man facing nine felony counts of child sex abuse in Bowie County.
Brayden Lee Ross, 21, appeared Monday and Tuesday before 5th District Judge Bill Miller for hearings related to three indictments charging Ross with multiple counts of sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old girl who is related to a woman Ross formerly dated.
Ross appeared Monday with Texarkana lawyer David Potter for arraignment on the indictments and entered pleas of not guilty to all counts. At Monday's hearing, Miller agreed to address a motion to reduce Ross' bails, which then totaled $700,000.
Potter called Ross, members of his family and an employer Ross has worked for to testify at the bond hearing Tuesday. Under questioning by Potter and Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter, the witnesses described Ross in positive terms and discussed the amount of money they could personally afford to put up for a bail bond.
Carter argued that in addition to a defendant's ability to reach a bond, the court may consider other factors, including that Ross is accused of violent crimes. Carter asked that bail be set at a total of $300,000 or $100,000 per indictment. Miller set a single $250,000 bail.
Miller ordered that Ross have no contact with anyone under 18 though he may have supervised contact with a younger female member of his immediate family. Miller warned Ross to have no contact with the alleged victim or her family and limited his travel to Bowie County and Miller County, Arkansas.
Each of the indictments lists crimes Ross allegedly committed with the girl during three months in 2021.
Ross allegedly met the girl in August while visiting members of her family with his girlfriend, according to a probable cause affidavit. In October, the girl spent the night with her older female relative at Ross' house and agreed to accompany him Oct. 30 to a deer lease. While the two were alone, Ross allegedly made sexual advances toward the girl and pressured her to engage in sexual activity.
The alleged victim reportedly told Bowie County Sheriff's Office investigators she considered calling her older adult relative about her situation while on the hunting excursion but "she was afraid because she was alone with this guy in the woods."
Ross allegedly told the girl "he would hurt her if she told."
An indictment involving the alleged misconduct in October charges Ross with two counts of sexual assault of a child, two counts of indecency with a child by contact and a single count of indecency with a child by exposure.
Ross allegedly exposed himself to the girl and engaged in a sex act with her over the Thanksgiving holidays while she was at Ross' residence visiting her older female relative. Prior to the encounter, Ross allegedly sent the girl messages on social media stating they "can do it fast."
An indictment alleging misconduct by Ross in November charges sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by exposure.
Ross allegedly abused the girl a few days before Christmas while she was at his residence visiting her relative. As she walked to the bathroom while others were asleep and Ross was in the kitchen, Ross allegedly stopped her, pushed her to her knees and exposed himself. The alleged victim made an outcry of sexual abuse against Ross in late December.
Ross has been charged in a third indictment with sexual assault and indecency with a child by exposure for the misconduct alleged in December.
The case is scheduled for trial before Miller in November. Ross was released from custody Tuesday after a $250,000 bond was posted on his behalf.