FRANKLIN—A Franklin man charged with numerous counts of sexually abusing minors, is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday, Nov. 7, in Southampton County Circuit Court.

Steven Gabriel Montano, 31, of the 100 block of Bobwhite Lane, is also on the docket for three different trial dates – Dec. 16, Jan. 2 and 13 – all related to 19 charges.

Franklin police had been notified by social services about the sexual assault of a minor, according to spokesman Capt. Tim Whitt. An investigation revealed that two juvenile females under the age of 17 reported that they were sexually assaulted by Montano. He’s the biological father of one of the girls and a guardian to the other. The sexual offenses are alleged to have taken place over several months while the inappropriate touching lasted for several years.

After continued investigation, detectives secured warrants for Montano and arrested him on April 16, for several offenses. He was remanded to Western Tidewater Regional Jail with no bond.

The charges against Montano are: abduction; three counts of indecent acts with a child by a parent; attempted rape; three counts of rape by force or threat; object sexual penetration; incest with a child ages 13-17; and eight counts of possession of child pornography.