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Oregon trial set for ex-youth pastor in girls' videos case

Donald Courtney Biggs, 39, has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and other charges.
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MEDFORD, Ore. — A former youth pastor is scheduled to stand trial later this month on charges said he secretly recorded videos of girls changing clothes at his Oregon house and on church trips to California.

A federal judge denied a motion Tuesday to reschedule Donald Courtney Biggs' trial, which is set for Feb. 26 in Medford, the Mail Tribune reported.

Biggs, 39, has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and three counts of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

He was indicted on the federal charges in 2015 after Medford police launched an initial investigation in late 2014. The investigation began after authorities were alerted to inappropriate text messages Biggs had exchanged with minors, according to court documents.

The secret video recordings were uncovered following Biggs' arrest, which occurred three days after he triggered the Mountain Church's alarm system when he attempted to steal computer hard drives, authorities said.

Investigators found several video files that contained girls in states of undress, according to court documents. Authorities said the videos were recorded between June 2012 and March 2014.
Prosecutors are expected to call more than 40 witnesses, including multiple girls who Biggs supervised at church activities.

Terry Kolkey, Biggs' attorney, declined to comment to The Associated Press on Thursday, saying the case was "just too factually and legally complex."

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