Timothy DeWaard appeared in person at the Seward County Justice Center on Nov. 4 for his election to a preliminary hearing.
DeWaard's attorney, Nancy Peterson of Lincoln, sat beside him at the desk and asked for a preliminary hearing be scheduled for mid-December. The former Centennial Public Schools Superintendent will appear again in court on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 3:30 p.m. Failure to appear at that time would result in a warrant for arrest and revocation of bail.
DeWaard has been charged with child abuse, a Class 3 felony, involving a school-aged student from Nov. 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020. If convicted he could face up to three years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
Seward County Attorney Wendy Elston previously told the Independent that DeWaard could face additional misdemeanors later in the legal process.
DeWaard was arrested in July by Seward County Sheriff's deputies on charges of child abuse and third-degree sexual assault.
