The former Centennial Public Schools Superintendent who resigned in July after allegations surfaced about an inappropriate relationship with a teenager at the school is set to make his first court appearance Wednesday on a felony child abuse charge.
In a complaint filed last week, Seward County Attorney Wendy Elston alleged Timothy DeWaard had knowingly or intentionally caused or permitted a minor child to be placed in a situation that endangered the child's life or physical or mental health.
The charge carries a possible sentence of up to three years' imprisonment if he's convicted.
DeWaard, 56, was arrested July 13 on suspicion of child abuse and third-degree sexual assault, but Elston filed only the child abuse charge.
He has been out of jail on a $50,000 bond.Â
In the affidavit for DeWaard's arrest, Deputy Seward County Sheriff Lisa Borges said a teenage boy came forward alleging that what started as innocent conversations on Snapchat had turned into locked-door meetings in DeWaard's office, where DeWaard allegedly had the boy sit on his lap, embraced him and touched his inner thigh over his clothes.
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"The victim felt he had to do this or he would fail out of school," Borges said.Â
She said the boy alleged it went on for several months.
The accuser told deputies that DeWaard had asked him for a topless photo in a call July 6 and allegedly said he had thoughts of touching the boy inappropriately.Â
DeWaard was interviewed and arrested a week later, then resigned.
He had been the superintendent at the school in Utica since 2007. He also served as a school administrator at Eustis-Farnam, Valentine and Tri County schools before that.
Photos: Our best staff images of October 2020
Roses
People smell the flowers in the Memorial Park Rose Garden in Omaha on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Friday Night Lights
Omaha Skutt's Sam Scott scores a third-quarter touchdown against Gretna.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Vice President
Vice President Mike Pence arrives at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Thursday, October 01, 2020. The vice president spoke at PVS Structures, a metal fabricator, in Carter Lake, Iowa as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign event.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Touchdown
Gretna quarterback Zane Flores lucks up after rushing for a third quarter touchdown against Omaha Skutt.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Pet Parade
Dawn Forney, left, and Jolynn Keplinger, both of Omaha, wear Tigger and Winnie the Pooh costumes as their dogs Bitsy, a 6-year-old Maltese poodle mix and Scarlet, a 3-year-old Great Dane, wear Piglet and Eeyore costumes for the pet parade during Farnam Fest along Farnam Street in Omaha on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
First Day Back
Students arrive for the first day of in-person class for OPS elementary schools at Springville Elementary School in Omaha on Monday, October 5, 2020. Families that have opted for in-person teaching will follow a 3-2 model, with students in the classroom every other day.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Jump
Elkhorn South's line backer Makhi Nelson-Douglas (2) and defensive lineman Maverick Noonan celebrate after sacking Gretna quarterback Zane Flores (not pictured).
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Pumpkin Paint
Reagan Garvey, left, and Sarah Babe, both 19 and of Omaha, paint pumpkins at Elmwood Park in Omaha on Monday, October 12, 2020.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Nature Color
A tree changes colors at Elmwood Park in Omaha on Monday, October 12, 2020.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
20201013_new_wildart_ar05
Siblings Juan Jesus Alvarez, 10, and Shantaly Alvarez, 9, of Omaha build a structure modeled after a Native American tent with branches at Elmwood Park on Monday.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Enter
Millard West takes the field before the start of the Millard West vs. Bellevue West football game at Bellevue West High School on Friday, October 9, 2020. Bellevue West won the game 42-7.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Harvest
Zach Benes harvests soybeans on farm east North of Lincoln, just east of North 40th Street, north of Interstate 80 last September.
CHRIS MACHIAN, Omaha World Herald
Softball Champs 1
Papio pitcher Jordyn Bahl hugs head coach Todd Petersen after winning the Class A Championship over North Platte.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Softball Champs 2
Omaha Skutt Catholic second baseman Alexa Rose reacts after scoring against North Platte.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Drum
The Southern Boyz drum group strikes a drum during a memorial ceremony for Zachary Bear Heels at Schroeder Vogel Park in Omaha on Saturday, October 17, 2020.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Cole Payton, Omaha Westside
Omaha Westside quarterback Cole Payton runs 60-yards as he stiff-arms Kansas City St. Thomas Aquinas’ Jacob Bittner for Westside’s third touchdown of the first quarter at Omaha Westside on Oct. 16.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Renovate
Renovation work continues on the site of the historic former Logan Hotel, located at 1802 Dodge St.on Monday, October 12, 2020.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
High school first day
Students return to school for their first day of in person classes for the 2020-2021 school year at South High School in Omaha on Monday, October 19, 2020.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Jump
Millard North’s Jimmy Quaintance, left, Charlie Quaintance, center, and Barrett Luce celebrate a first-quarter touchdown against Norfolk. Jimmy threw the scoring pass to his brother, Charlie.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Ready
Kearney Catholic's Gavin Drumheller (53), Kale Murphy (52) and Seth Moore (66) line up as their team is introduced before the start of the Cozad vs. Kearney Catholic football game at Kearney Catholic High School on Friday, October 23, 2020.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Cold
Kearney Catholic cheerleaders huddle for warmth in the fourth quarter of the Cozad vs. Kearney Catholic football game at Kearney Catholic High School on Friday, October 23, 2020. Kearney Catholic won the game 31-0.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Opposite Worlds
The Elkhorn student section storms the field as Omaha Skutt Catholic players walk off the field.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Eye on Ball
Elkhorn South's Katie Galligan (6) competes in the Elkhorn South vs. Papillion-La Vista South Metro Conference championship match at Papillion-La Vista South High School on Thursday, October 22, 2020. Elkhorn South won in five sets. Elkhorn South won in five sets.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Spooky Vote
A spooky reminder to vote in a home's yard near 72nd and Cass Street in Omaha on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Colorful Run
Leaves start to change color on trees as a jogger runs down the south side of the Dodge Street Pedestrian bridge, as viewed from Memorial Park on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Cheer
Elkhorn South fans cheer from the stands during a timeout against Bellevue West.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Snow
Yemin Zeng, right, pushes Yechun Zeng, both 5, on a sled down a hill at Memorial Park early Monday afternoon. Overnight, snow fell in the Omaha area but had mostly melted by the afternoon.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Guard
Security personnel oversee a rally supporting President Donald Trump at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. President Trump spoke as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign rally later in the evening.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
President Trump Visits
Supporters cheer as President Donald Trump speaks at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. President Trump spoke as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign rally.
ANNA REED/THE WORLD-HERALD
Turtle Voting Power
Rida Rahman, 4, waits in line with her parents, Hafiz Rahman, left, and Shamsun Ruby, right, at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Rida was dressed as Raphael, from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while her parents were in line for early voting.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Early Vote
Douglas County residents wait in line to vote early outside the Douglas County Election Commissioner’s Office in Omaha on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Flex
Omaha Westside's Koby Bretz tries to catch a pass in front of Grand Island's Alex Hinken in the end zone. It was ruled not a catch.
CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
Pass
Gretna wide receiver Connor Edwards battles Kearney defensive back Kaden Miller for control of a pass.
LILY SMITH/THE WORLD-HERALD
Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LJSpilger
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