Former Bedford public defender accused of molesting 7-year-old girl

BEDFORD -- Bedford County's former public defender was accused of sexually molesting a girl from the time she was 7 until she was 11 in more than 300 criminal charges filed Thursday.

A five-week probe ended when police arrested the lawyer, Bradley Scott Bingaman, 31, as he packed a moving truck, authorities said. Bond was set at $200,000.

Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins said police were tipped off on Wednesday that Bingaman, who moved out of the area, would be returning to pick up some personal belongings.

Bingaman resigned his post as public defender on March 27 and moved. Court documents say the victim, who now is 13, had told her mother about the sexual assault the day before.

Bingaman was accused of molesting the girl from September 2001 until November 2004. According to the documents, Bingaman assaulted the girl several times a week when she was young, molesting her less frequently as she got older.

The court documents state that Bingaman confessed to the girl's mother in early April, saying he felt guilty.

Higgins said he worked with Bingaman while he served as public defender.

"I had a good working relationship with him. It's disheartening," Higgins said.

Bingaman has been charged with two counts of rape -- each of which carries a minimum five-year prison sentence -- involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, statutory sexual assault and 156 counts each of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault.