Bond modification denied; case moved to circuit court

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

An Exeter woman is facing two felony charges after allegedly engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a juvenile.

Brandi Thomas, 26, of Exeter, is charged with second-degree statutory rape and second-degree statutory sodomy.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Det. Jeremy Berner, with the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 14, he began investigating an alleged sexual assault report made to the Sheriff’s Office involving Thomas and a male juvenile.

On Sept. 21, Thomas met with Berner at the Sheriff’s Office for an interview, and after being read her Miranda rights, allegedly admitted the juvenile had stayed the night at her home on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5.

Thomas allegedly admitted during those nights, she had touched the juvenile inappropriately, and on Sept. 10, allegedly admitted she went to the juvenile’s residence and engaged in intercourse with the juvenile.

Berner said Thomas stated the interaction was consensual, and it was her idea.

Thomas was booked into the Barry County jail on Sept. 21 with a $50,000, cash-only bond. She was arraigned on Sept. 22 in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke, and on Sept. 24, bond modification was denied.

Following an Oct. 29 preliminary hearing, Thomas’ case was bonded over to circuit court. Arraignment there is scheduled for Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Alan Blankenship.