Brandt pleads guilty to six rape charges

11/2/2012 12:31:00 AM

Brandt pleads guilty to six rape charges

Faces 60 years-to-life sentence

By Will E Sanders

Ohio Community Media

An adoptive father of three juveniles accused of raping the children and compelling child prostitution via online advertisements agreed to plea bargain in common pleas court Thursday that secures his cooperation in the case and stipulates a prison sentence of between 60 years to life.

Kenneth H. Brandt, 40, of Troy, entered guilty pleas to six first-degree felony rape counts as a result of the plea agreement, which dismissed 25 similar rape counts.

Miami County Prosecutor Gary Nasal said Brandt could be called to testify against another man charged in the child rape case, Jason Zwick, 29, of Beavercreek.

Zwick is scheduled to take his case to trial Tuesday. He has entered not guilty pleas to three counts of rape involving children.

Nasal reserved all other comment until after Brandt's sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled and will take place at the conclusion of the Zwick case.

Brandt and Zwick were indicted by a Miami County grand jury in March.

Brandt, and another suspect, Patrick Rieder, 31, of Dayton, also face several rape and sex-related charges in Montgomery County and those cases are still pending.

Brandt and the two other men were arrested in February after authorities raided Brandt's home and confiscated several items, including computers and media storage devices.

Authorities made the arrest following an undercover investigation by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force after the group made contact with the three men.

The children, who were abused at Brandt's Troy home and another home in Dayton, were ages 9, 10 and 12 at the time of the alleged sexual abuse, authorities said.

Brandt and Zwick met one another though a popular classifieds advertising website regarding sex with children.