The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - Robert Bridwell pleaded not guilty Thursday to sexual exploi­tation of a minor and other charges relating to photo­graphs he is alleged to have taken of underage women.

Bridwell, 64, of Dayton, was charged last month with 35 felony counts by the Co­lumbia County Prosecutor's Office after his seized cell phone was found with sexu­ally explicit photos. He and his attorney, public defender Dale Slack, entered the not guilty pleas during a hearing in front of Superior Court Judge William Acey.

Columbia County Sher­iff's deputies began an in­vestigation into Bridwell's activities in May of last year, after a homeowner told them of suspicious activities in a garage she rented to Bridwell. An alleged victim came forward and told offi­cers she posed for Bridwell when she was under 18. Bridwell was served with a search warrant and arrested on September 16.

Prosecutor Rea Culwell said that a trial has been set for Bridwell on November 12 and 13. She also said her office hopes to resolve the case with a plea agreement prior to the trial.

In addition, Culwell said that officials are seeking information on other poten­tial victims of Bridwell's. She asked that anyone who has information relating to Bridwell's activities with minors call her office at (509) 382-1197, or the Co­lumbia County Sheriff's Of­fice at (509) 382-2518.