(St. Joseph News Press) – The former band director for Albany High School and the Albany R-III School District returned to court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Defense attorney Richard Jacoby waived Christopher Hensley’s right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday and the court transferred the case to Circuit Court for a possible trial.
Circuit Judge Roger Prokes will arraign the defendant at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 7 on the eight felony charges.
The state charged Hensley, 31, with eight felonies, four counts of statutory rape and four counts of sexual contact with a student for alleged incidents in May and July.
In August, Associate Circuit Judge Joel A. Miller reduced Hensley’s bond from $50,000 to $25,000 with corporate surety, providing the defendant submitted to electronic monitoring, reside more than two blocks from any school, ball field or other facility used by a school and have no contact with any R-III students or employees.
Hensley posted bond on Sept. 11 and agreed to abide by all conditions.
The defendant was placed on immediate leave from the Albany R-III School District back in August when the school district learned of the allegations.
