Ex-commissioner Dean pleads not guilty for second time on child molestation charges

By Valerie Rowell

Three people pleaded not guilty to felony charges during an arraignment hearing Friday in Columbia County.

Former Columbia County Commissioner Scott Dean pleaded not guilty to child molestation charges for a second time.

Dean faces two charges of molesting his adopted daughter. She is one of five children that Dean and his wife adopted in 2008 from Guatemala.

He was originally indicted on the charges, and he pleaded not guilty to those charges in February.

A Columbia County grand jury re-indicted Dean on Sept. 28 on the same charges, but adjusted dates and the nature of one of the charges, according to court documents.

Dean is accused of exposing himself and inappropriately touching the girl.

The original indictment states the activity occurred between Sept. 1, 2008, and Sept. 11, 2010. The new indictment extends that time period to Oct. 11, 2010.

A trial date has not been set.