AURORA, Neb. — A former Aurora police chief has waived his preliminary hearing on charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child.
William Gage, 72, appeared in Hamilton County Court on the charges.
Deputy Hamilton County Attorney Jo Petersen said Gage's case was sent to Hamilton County District Court. He will appear in District Court on Jan. 5.
Gage is charged with sexual assault of a child older than 12 and younger than 16 by a person older than 25 years old, Petersen said.
Gage was arrested after a he reported a theft and the resulting investigation showed that the theft suspect had permission to be in Gage's home. A search warrant led to information that resulted in the sexual assault charges.
Petersen said the alleged victim of the assault is a male age 12 to 16 who lives in central Nebraska.
Gage was the Aurora police chief for nearly 20 years, retiring in 1998.
Sexual assault of a child is a Class 1-B felony, which is punishable by 15 years to life in prison.
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