Former Montezuma County sheriff hopeful William \u201cBill\u201d Conner was officially charged with seven counts of child sexual assault this week.<\/p>\n
During a 23-minute proceeding in Montezuma County Court on Wednesday, Oct. 28, Conner\u2019s paid defense attorney, Kelly McCabe, waived reading of the charges and requested a preliminary hearing. Those proceedings were set for Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 25.<\/p>\n
According to court records, all seven counts of child sexual assault are alleged to have taken place during a near yearlong span between Sept. 28, 2008, and Sept. 1, 2009. A seven-page arrest warrant issued earlier this month reveals the charges are connected to the alleged molestation of two underage relatives.<\/p>\n
Conner, 55, of Cortez, was arrested and jailed on Friday, Oct. 16. He is currently free after posting a $30,000 bond.<\/p>\n
Court records reveal that investigators first learned of the allegations in 2014. During an hour-long 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 during a subsequent hourlong interview 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 that they should wait until she turned 18.<\/p>\n
According to court documents, Conner spoke with investigators in April. He denied any wrongdoing, telling authorities that both girls were untruthful. He declined to take a polygraph exam regarding the allegations.<\/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 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