A 56-year-old Mount Carmel man facing felony charges of criminal sexual abuse and aggravated battery will remain in custody following a preliminary hearing Monday in Wabash County Circuit Court.
Jeremy Jay Drew appeared before the court with his attorney, Public Defender William Easton. Wabash County State’s Attorney Kelli Storckman represented the prosecution.
During the hearing, the court found probable cause for the charges to proceed. Drew waived formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty.
Drew faces a Class 2 felony charge of criminal sexual abuse and a Class 3 felony charge of aggravated battery in connection with an alleged incident involving a 20-year-old woman on October 5.
According to court records, Drew is accused of slapping the woman on the buttocks and touching her pubic area.
The criminal sexual abuse charge is classified as a Class 2 felony because Drew has a previous conviction for aggravated criminal sexual abuse dating back to 1999.
Drew was initially denied pretrial release during an October 7 court appearance.
During Monday’s hearing, the judge reaffirmed that Drew should remain detained, finding that his release would pose a real and present threat to the community or a specific individual.
The court also determined that no available conditions of release would adequately address that threat.
Drew’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 16 at 9:30 a.m. for a final pretrial hearing.
A jury trial is scheduled to begin December 7.
Drew remains in custody at the Wabash County Jail pending further court proceedings.