Hastings Man Accused of Leaving Child in Roadside Ditch Pleads Not Guilty
A Hastings man pleaded not guilty to felony charges after being accused of leaving a one-year-old child in a roadside ditch.
HASTINGS, Neb. — A Hastings man pleaded not guilty to felony charges after being accused of leaving a one-year-old child in a roadside ditch.
According to court documents, 31-year-old Austin Hendrick of Hastings faces one count of intentional child abuse, a Class 3-A felony.
On October 4, an alert person saw the 15-month-old child in a roadside ditch near the 2000 block of Marian Street in rural Adams County and alerted authorities. The child was taken to a hospital for evaluation. The incident triggered a criminal investigation leading to Hendrick being arrested in January.
Hendrick is due back in court for a pretrial conference March 31. The jury trial is set to start May 11.