Man charged with sexually assaulting adopted daughter set to appear in court

Oct. 30--A Noble man with several sexual assault charges is asking the state to demonstrate it has enough evidence to prosecute him.

Today, Brandon John Smith, 34, is set to appear before Judge Steve Stice for a preliminary hearing, where the state must show there is probable cause for the case to continue making its way through the court system.

According to a Noble police affidavit, the alleged victim and the girl's mother, who is married to Smith, came to the Noble Police Department in May, and reported Smith had sexually abused his teenage adopted daughter.

Three days after the allegations were made, the victim was interviewed by a forensic interviewer at the Mary Abbott Children's House.

During the interview, the girl said on several occurrences, Smith performed sexual acts on her, including in exchange for not telling the girl's mother she got into trouble at school, the affidavit read.

Two counts of first-degree rape and five counts of performing lewd acts with a child under 16 were filed against Smith in June.

Oklahoma court records reveal Smith has no previous criminal record. He is being held on $1,000,000 bond.

The following are people scheduled to appear in Cleveland County District Court:

--Oct. 30

A woman charged with trafficking at least 20 grams of drugs is set to appear in court today for a probable cause hearing.

Stephanie Lynn Champion, 39, of Norman, faces charges of drug trafficking, possessing/selling drug paraphernalia and driving a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Oklahoma court records show Champion posted $10,000 bond after her bond was reduced from $30,000.

--Nov. 2

The case against a Norman man charged with sexually assaulting his underage relative is set for a disposition hearing this week.

At the hearing Thursday, Jesus Salvador Barajas Araujo, 37, could either enter a plea to the charge, request more time to negotiate a plea, or ask for a trial.

Araujo was charged in May, with performing lewd acts with a child, after the mother of the victim contacted police and told them her daughter claimed Araujo had assaulted her.

According to a Norman Police affidavit, during an interview with a forensic interviewer at the Mary Abbott Children's House, the victim described details of Araujo inappropriately touching her while she stayed the night at his house sometime in April.

Oklahoma court records show Araujo has no previous criminal history. Araujo is being held on $30,000 bond.

___

(c)2017 The Norman Transcript (Norman, Okla.)

Visit The Norman Transcript (Norman, Okla.) at www.normantranscript.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.