Brenes

Brenes
By Kelly Doran
Editor

Brandon Brenes, 25 of Batavia, waived his right to a trial by jury on August 31 in favor on a bench trial.

The bench trial is set for November 23 and 24 at 10 a.m. both days. Brenes will be before Judge Victor Haddad.

Brenes was working as a police officer for the Bethel Police Department when he was accused of sexually abusing a woman in December.

He resigned on April 30, and had been on paid administrative leave since December 30 because of the accusation.

On December 28, 2014, a female victim came to Officer Shane Olson of the Amelia Police Department and reported that Brenes did some sexual things to her, Chief Jeff Wood said in May.

At the time of the incident, the victim was intoxicated and is unsure exactly what happened but knows something happened, Wood said.

After looking into the incident, Olson contacted the Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Columbus and an agent came to Amelia and worked with Olson to build the case, Wood said.

When the agent and Olson presented the case to the Prosecutor’s Office, the case went to grand jury, where Brenes was charged with rape and sexual battery.