Text and Sex Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

The man accused of having underage sex with a girl he met using a mobile texting application pleaded not guilty Friday to 11 criminal charges. 

Santa Monica resident Brian Anthony Marks, an aspiring pilot,  Police allege Marks, 32, had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl and assaulted her "multiple times" from September until December, when her parents learned of the relationship and called the authorities.

Marks and the girl allegedly met using a mobile text application similar to an online chatroom.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has charged Marks with nine counts of lewd acts upon a child and two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. 

At his arraignment Friday, a judge set Marks' bail at $1 million. He had been out of custody after posting bond shortly after his Jan. 3 arrest. 

The assaults reportedly occurred at Marks' Santa Monica residence, where investigators executed a search warrant before taking him into custody. Investigators retrieved his cell phone and computer, police Sgt. Richard Lewis said.

Marks is due back in court March 2.

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