Imperial man arrested on child sexual assault charges

Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), with the assistance of the Imperial Police Department, arrested Richard Butt, 66, of Imperial Monday on multiple charges following an investigation into alleged sexual assaults of a child.

Butt was initially lodged in the Chase County Jail in Imperial for 1st degree sexual assault of a child and 3rd degree sexual assault of a child, both felonies.

Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller said the Hall County Sheriff’s Office picked Butt up Tuesday and transported him to Grand Island.

He was arraigned in Hall County Court in Grand Island Wednesday. His bond was set at $250,000. He appeared before Judge Arthur Wetzel. 

In February, the NSP was notified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services that a series of alleged assaults had been reported to them. 

A press release said the NSP immediately opened an investigation, which determined that alleged assaults began in 2015 and continued until this year.

A call to the State Patrol Wednesday yielded no additional information because the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are possible, said Public Relations Director Cody Thomas.