Gadsden man indicted on sex abuse charge

Bryan Keith McDaniel

A 53 year old Gadsden man, arrested in April on charges of stealing from a local shoe store is now facing charges for allegedly molesting a child who slept over at his house.  Bryan Keith McDaniel, was indicted earlier this month by an Etowah county grand jury on felony charges of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old, first-degree theft of property and computer tampering.  McDaniel was served the indictments and arrested on Wednesday.  The sex-related charges stem from an incident that allegedly happened at his home 11 to 12 years ago, when the victim was 11 years old. There is no statute of limitations for sexual abuse of a child younger than 12.  The theft charge stems from an incident on Aug. 23, 2011, when McDaniel allegedly stole $10,900 worth of Red Wing shoes from Hicks’ Family Shoes, his former employer. The computer charge alleges that on March 7, he deleted the company’s website, Facebook page and emails.  Police said the total loss to the shoe store over the years was in excess of $100,000.