Barton County Attorney Amy Mellor announced that Austin James Levingston was bound over trial on several felony charges resulting from testimony presented at a preliminary hearing last Friday.

In a complaint filed against Levingston, he was charged with three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child and three counts of lewd and lascivious behavior.

Testimony presented at the preliminary hearing established probable cause to believe that Levingston had committed five of the charged crimes.

Arraignment is set for later this month.

Although Levingston faces trial on the charges, Mellor stressed that this does not amount to a finding of guilt, and Levingston is presumed to be innocent of wrongdoing at this time. Trial dates have yet to be set.

After hearing arguments for and against the request, the Court granted a defense motion to reduce Levingston’s bond. He was placed on house arrest as a condition of the Court order.

The 24-year old posted a $100,000 bond through Ace Bail Bonding  on Friday, Nov. 16, according to the Barton County Sheriff’s Office arrest log.

At the time of his arrest on August 23, Great Bend Police Chief David Bailey said law enforcement was working on a suspect for alleged child sex crimes for months.