Imperial man waives preliminary hearing in child sexual assault case

    Richard L. Butt of Imperial waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Hall County Court Monday afternoon.
    With that, he was bound over to District Court on two felony sexual assault of a child charges, one for first degree and one for third degree.
    His next court appearance will be arraignment in District Court in Grand Island on Tuesday, May 19, at 9 a.m. CT
    The charges resulted after the Nebraska State Patrol was notified by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services that a series of alleged assaults had been reported to them.
    The State Patrol, assisted by the Imperial Police Department, arrested Butt at his home in Imperial March 30.
    Five days earlier on March 25, Judge Arthur Wetzel sealed the arrest warrant so no other information is available.
    Butt continues to be held in the Hall County Jail on $250,000 bond.
    Butt’s court-appointed attorney is Gerard Piccolo. The case is being prosecuted by Garrett L. Schroeder.