Preliminary hearing set May 4 for Richard Butt

    Richard Butt, 66, of Imperial will face a preliminary hearing in Grand Island May 4 on two charges of sexual assault of a child.
    He will appear before Judge Arthur Wetzel in Hall County Court at 4 p.m. CT. Representing Butt is court-appointed public defender Gerard A. Piccolo of Grand Island.
    The defendant is being held in Hall County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Felony charges are one count first degree sexual assault/child and one third degree sexual assault.
    In court documents, the date of both alleged offenses is May 1, 2015.
    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.
    On March 25, Judge Wetzel sealed the arrest warrant so other information is unavailable.