Stratton man bound over on sexual assault, other charges

TRENTON, Neb. -- Hitchcock County, Nebraska, Judge Anne Paine bound over to district court and continued the $1.5 million bond for a 45-year-old Stratton man facing eight sexual assault, weapon, terroristic threat and drug charges.

Anthony J. "A.J." Horton told Judge Paine that he waived his right to the preliminary hearing scheduled Wednesday afternoon in county court in the courthouse in Trenton. Horton's first appearance in district court will be Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1:30 p.m.

Horton's court-appointed defender, Kelly S. Breen of Lincoln, an attorney from the violent crime and drug defense division of the Nebraska Commission of Public Advocacy, asked Judge Paine to reduce Horton's bond from $1.5 million to $50,000/10 percent.

Paine declined to reduce bond, agreeing with Hitchcock County attorney D. Eugene Garner that the amount is appropriate. Paine told Breen that he can make the same request of the district court judge, even before Horton's first appearance.

Horton faces two counts of sexual assault; terroristic threats; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony; possession and manufacture of methamphetamine with intent to deliver/dispense, within 1,000 feet of a public swimming pool and playground; possession of a deadly weapon (a knife) by a felon; and no drug tax stamp (possession of more than 6 oz. of meth without a drug tax stamp).