BEATRICE – A trial date has been set for a Milford, Kansas man who formerly operating a carpet cleaning business in Beatrice and is facing drug and theft charges.

Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner on Wednesday scheduled a May 11th trial for 66-year-old Dale Simmons.  He is accused of stealing items from homes where he performed cleaning services.  Simmons is charged with two felony theft counts, two misdemeanor theft charges and a felony count of distribution of a hazardous drug.  He and his attorney earlier filed written not guilty pleas with the court.

Judge Schreiner reserved three days of court time for the trial and scheduled a pretrial conference for April 8th.   The judge also ordered that any motions be filed on or before March 28th.

Simmons was arrested by Beatrice Police last August 26th, following an investigation into reported thefts of coins, rings and cash from local homes where Simmons’ had performed cleaning services.   Police were aided in their investigation by the help of coin collecting businesses and pawn shops in Nebraska and Kansas.

During a traffic stop arrest near Second and High Streets, police searched the vehicle Simmons and a passenger occupied…..finding a handgun, suspected methamphetamine, a pipe with suspected meth residue and $1,100 in cash.