Ross Nathan Crowder, 37, of Lewisburg Road, was arraigned on three counts of first degree sexual abuse with a victim under the age of 12.
He was indicted on the charges earlier this month and has spent the past three weeks in the Logan County Detention Center.
At Thursday’s hearing, Crowder was awarded a public defender to handle his case.
Crowder also asked to have his bond reduced. He was being held on a $30,000 bond.
“This is a tough situation, because I don’t like to keep anybody in jail while waiting for their trial,” Circuit Judge Tyler Gill said.
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Joe Ross said he would like to keep the bond high.
“This victim in this case is very young, but we think she is very credible,” Ross said. “She described the acts and also described watching pornographic videos with the defendant.”
Ross said the victim told the police exactly where to find the videos and also described some of the scenes she witnessed. The police found the videos right where the victim said they were and the scenes on them were consistent with what the victim has described.
Crowder also has a previous conviction of misdemeanor second degree sexual abuse in 1998.
“The big deal here is the prior conviction,” Gill said before ruling that Crowder’s bond will remain at $30,000.
Ross said that Crowder plead guilty in district court last week to a charge of wanton endangerment for violating a court order to stay away from the victim.
Crowder is scheduled to be back in Circuit Court on May 13 for a preliminary hearing.
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