August 8, 2008 - Andrew Belant, 25, a second grade teacher's aide at Jacoby Creek Elementary School , pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on Thursday.
He pleaded not guilty to 20 charges stemming from accusations he molested four boys, ages 9 to 13, between January 2007 and March 2008. He met them while working at a Eureka church and afterschool programs. He was arrested March 4.
Belant also worked at Lafayette Elementary School, the Humboldt Child Care Council and the Triumphant Life Camp. He was also a youth pastor.
Testimony at the preliminary included William Honsal, a district attorney investigator with the Child Abuse Services Team who interviewed the children.
Honsal told the court he traveled to Belant's Cutten residence to serve a search warrant the day after receiving reports of abuse. After knocking, Honsal said there was a long wait before Belant answered. He said Belant was detained on his couch while he began a cursory sweep of the home.Full Name: Andrew Brian Belant
Honsal said inside Belant's room, he found two laptop computers running -- one of which was running what he called “Department of Defense grade” data destruction software, effectively wiping clean Belant's hard drive.
