A preliminary hearing for Jerry W. Mills has been scheduled for late next month in Ark City. Mills is accused of numerous sex crimes said to involve young women in his family.
The hearing is set for 10 a.m. March 27 in the courtroom of Cowley County Dist. Court Judge Jim Pringle. The date was set during a brief court proceeding Thursday.
Mills, 50, was arrested in January as part of an investigation into sex crimes involving children and faces numerous counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, rape and other sex charges. Several of those charges carry the potential for life in prison.
There are six alleged victims in the case. The charges are based on incidents said to have occurred from 2006 through 2011.
Mills remains in jail with bond set at $200,000.
A preliminary hearing gives a defendant an opportunity to hear the evidence against him. At least some of the alleged victims are expected to testify during the hearing.
Pringle will then determine if Mills is bound over for trial.
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