Orange man pleads not guilty to sex crimes

An Orange, Texas man pleaded not guilty to multiple sex crimes charges Monday in state district court.

Michael Shane Crumpler, 35, is charged with 13 counts each of aggravated rape and sexual battery. He also faces two counts of molestation of a juvenile.

Crumpler was arrested in April 2010 for allegedly touching two young girls inappropriately between February 2004 and September 2008.

The girls were 5 and 6 when the crimes happened, said Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kim Myers.

Crumpler was originally charged with two counts of aggravated rape and four counts of sexual battery. He was subsequently released on a $200,000 bond.

On March 9, a grand jury indicted him on an additional 13 counts of sexual battery, three counts of aggravated rape and two counts of molestation.

Crumpler, who appeared in court via closed-circuit video from the jail, pleaded not guilty to all charges through his attorney Walt Sanchez.

He is scheduled to stand trial on Jan. 22.

Crumpler remains in jail on a $1.07 million bond.

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