Amended criminal filing in the case against Timothy Erks, of Liberty

BEATRICE – The State of Nebraska is filing an amended criminal complaint against a Liberty man, which increases the severity of one of the charges against him.

31-year-old Timothy Erks is now charged with Intentional child abuse resulting in death, one count of committing child abuse causing serious bodily injury, one count of child abuse with no injury….and a charge of false imprisonment. The defendant, Erks, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on the amended charge during a short Gage County District Court hearing Thursday, before Judge Rick Schreiner. 

The judge also granted Assistant Nebraska Attorney General William Tangeman’s motion to endorse additional witnesses in the case…to include State of Nebraska investigators.  Defense attorney Brooklyn Terrill did not object to the amended filing and acknowledged the waiver of preliminary hearing on the amended charge.  The defense will be given opportunity to take depositions of new witnesses.   

The amended filing increases the second count in the criminal case from a class-three-A felony to a class-two felony.

Judge Schreiner scheduled further pre-trial proceedings in the case for March 19^th, at 10 a.m.

Erks previously pleaded not guilty to charges against him and remains in custody on a $10 million appearance bond.  The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred involving two child victims.