Not guilty pleas entered in alleged child abuse death case in Gage County

BEATRICE – A Liberty, Nebraska man is pleading innocent to several charges, including one relating to the death of a child.

31-year-old Timothy Erks is entering written pleas of not guilty to charges of intentional child abuse resulting in death, two counts of committing child abuse with no injury…and one charge of false imprisonment. His attorney, Tim Noerrlinger sought a bond reduction for his client during a Thursday morning hearing. 

"We're asking the court to consider it. As I noted, he has significant ties to the community, limited record....no history of failures to appear. We're also asking the court to consider, in the alternative, allowing for a surety bond, in lieu of a percentage bond."

Chief Deputy Gage County Attorney, Amanda Spracklen-Hogan argued against reducing the current level of bond.

"We believe it adequately reflects the loss of life in this case...some very heinous allegations for the probable cause affidavit....and in large part, Mr. Erks does have prior history of sexual assault of minors. He puts minors in this community at risk and he's been convicted of offenses involving minors...so we think ten million, ten percent accurately reflects both the prior criminal history and the allegations in this matter."

Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner ordered that Erks’ appearance bond remain set at $10 million.

The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred between January 1st and July 1st of this year, allegedly involving two child victims.

Judge Schreiner scheduled a pre-trial hearing in the case for January 8th, at 10 a.m.