HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The preliminary hearing for a Hutchinson man facing numerous counts of inappropriate contact with children has been continued in Reno County District Court.
Thirty-five-year-old Wayne Willard is charged with 10 counts of rape of a child under the age of 14. Each count carries a mandatory 50 years in prison. He’s also charged with rape by force, which carries a possible sentence of 12 to 54 years, and an alternative count of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He was arrested by law enforcement back in April of this year.
The request to delay the hearing was at the request of the defense, which stated it did not have all of the discovery of evidence needed to proceed. The motion was granted by Judge Joe McCarville and the hearing is now set for Monday, Oct. 24.
There was also a motion to address Willard's bond, which is currently at $1 million. The defense requested the bond be lowered to where Willard could be out and support his family, but the state objected to any reduction, noting Willard does have a past incident similar to what he is charged with now, and with numerous possible counts against him, the bond was deemed appropriate.
Judge McCarville agreed and kept the bond where it is.
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