McDaniel enters not guilty plea to exploitation charges

Stephen Mark McDaniel swiveled in his chair Monday as he waited to plead not guilty to 30 counts of sexual exploitation of children.

McDaniel, 26, appeared thin and pale, but he seemed more alert than he has in previous court appearances.

He nodded during conversations with his lawyer and walked with his head up. He was handcuffed and in chains.

His hearing, a formality that nonetheless drew a dozen or so reporters and photographers, lasted all of about two minutes.

McDaniel has been in jail since July 1, the day after authorities found 27-year-old Lauren Giddings’ dismembered torso in a roll-away trash bin beside the Georgia Avenue apartment building where the two were next-door neighbors.

Prosecutors have announced that they plan to seek the death penalty against McDaniel, who also has been indicted on a murder charge in Giddings’ death.

McDaniel’s parents, who have attended other court appearances, were not in the courtroom Monday for their son’s arraignment on the sexual exploitation charges.

The charges stem from the discovery of digital images depicting children engaged in sex acts while police searched McDaniel’s apartment in the days after Giddings’ body was discovered, officials said. In Georgia, a person found to be in possession of child pornography is charged with sexual exploitation of children.

McDaniel didn’t speak during the hearing. Instead, his attorney told the judge that McDaniel waived his right to have the sexual exploitation of children indictment read aloud in the courtroom.

At the end of the hearing, McDaniel, his hands cuffed and chained to his waist, signed a document formally entering his not-guilty plea.

A separate hearing will be held later on the murder charge.

To contact writer Amy Leigh Womack, call 744-4398. To contact writer Joe Kovac Jr., call 7 44-4397.

This story was originally published December 13, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "McDaniel enters not guilty plea to exploitation charges."