Lierman Enters Not Guilty Pleas; One Felony Count Dropped

In an empty courtroom Monday morning, a hand-cuffed Darryl Lierman remained nearly mute as pleas of not guilty were entered on his behalf.

Lierman, represented by court-appointed attorney Ron Temple, waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the Antelope County courtroom.  After a brief recess, county attorney Joe Abler returned with an information sheet to present to the court, which began the arraignment process. 

Judge Mark Johnson read Lierman's statutory rights and the alleged offenses. Lierman answered most questions asked of him, including his ability to read and write the English language and his highest form of education, but he refused to answer his age.

Lierman, 49 and of Neligh, originally faced 11  felony charges; however, count four - first degree sexual assault of a child - was stricken.

He currently is being charged with three counts of first degree sexual assault of a child (class 1B felonies), three counts of third degree sexual assault of a child and four counts of child abuse (class IIIA felonies).  

A class 1B felony is punishable by a maximum  of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 15 years imprisonment. Class IIIA felonies are punishable by a maximum of five years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine or both and there is no minimum. 

Lierman remained mute for all charges except for the first count for which he replied with the word "mute." The court entered not guilty pleas on his behalf for each of the ten counts.

After arraignment, his jury trial was scheduled for September 14,at 9 a.m. with his pretrial will be August 26 at 9 a.m. 

He was released into the Antelope County Sheriff's custody, pending the posting of his bond, which is set at ten percent of $200,000. Lierman has been held at the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center since July 29. 

Antelope County Sheriff Bob Moore said immediately following his arrest on July 14, Lierman was taken to the Madison County Jail due to security reasons from a previous altercation. Moore said this was arranged prior to the arrest between himself, lead council Joe Abler and assistant council Joe Smith, who serves as the Madison Count Attorney.