A former Montezuma County lawman will remain under GPS surveillance while awaiting a preliminary hearing on child molestation charges.<\/p>\n
At a scheduled preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 25, defense attorney Kelly McCabe requested that the surveillance stipulation be removed as a bond condition for his client, William \u201cBill\u201d Conner. A former Montezuma County sheriff candidate, Conner is charged with eights counts of child sex assault. He remains free on a $30,000 bond.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout a substantial increase in the monetary amount of that bond, it would be inappropriate to reduce the non-monetary conditions,\u201d said Montezuma County Court Judge Jennilynn Lawrence.<\/p>\n
Denying the defense request, Lawrence explained that she initially agreed to set a lower-than-normal bond amount on the condition that the defendant be monitored by GPS surveillance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is impossible to ignore the degree of risk presented by the offenses alleged in this case, so the GPS requirement remains,\u201d Lawrence added.<\/p>\n
McCabe also requested that Wednesday\u2019s preliminary hearing be continued, citing he needed additional time to review a plea agreement presented by prosecutors. McCabe indicated that his client was unlikely to accept the plea deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Conner is not interested in any plea in this case,\u201d said McCabe. \u201cHe maintains his innocence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The court granted the continuance, setting a new preliminary hearing for 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 6.<\/p>\n
A seven-page arrest warrant reveals the charges against Conner are connected to the alleged molestation of two underage relatives in 2008 and 2009. Investigators first learned of the allegations in 2014.<\/p>\n
During an interview with a social worker, the youngest of the alleged victims, now 17, said she was repeatedly assaulted in a pasture and inside Conner\u2019s home.<\/p>\n
The oldest alleged victim also told a social worker that she too was sexually assaulted by Conner. Investigators have indicated that a journal from the now 21-year-old woman reveals a wish to go back to when she was 14, so she could \u201ctell Bill no.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to court documents, Conner spoke with investigators in April, denying any wrongdoing. He declined a polygraph exam, police said.<\/p>\n
Employment records show that Conner served as a deputy, lieutenant and even undersheriff with the Montezuma County Sheriff\u2019s Office between 1986 and 2006.<\/p>\n
Conner left law enforcement after a failed election campaign in 2006 against former Sheriff Gerald Wallace. Since, Conner has worked as a truck driver, mechanic and substitute school bus driver, a relative confirmed.<\/p>\n
Under GPS surveillance, bond conditions bar Conner from contact with the alleged victims. He\u2019s also prohibited from possessing firearms.<\/p>\n