(KNZA)--An Elwood police officer, accused of alleged sex-related offenses, is free on bond after a judge grants a request for a bond reduction.

During a hearing Thursday afternoon in a Doniphan County courtroom, a judge granted a request by the attorney for 30-year-old Aaron Newberry to reduce his $50,000 bond to a $25,000 O.R. ( own recognizance ) bond.

Newberry is scheduled to make his next appearance in court the morning of September 20th for a pre-trial conference.

He was arrested July 21 by the Elwood Police Department on charges of aggravated sexual battery and mistreatment of a confined person.

According to the criminal complaint, the female victim was allegedly “detained or confined” by Newberry at the time of the crime.

Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert is serving as special prosecutor in the case.

It remains unknown how long Newberry had served as an Elwood Police Officer prior to his arrest.

His current status with the department, following his arrest, also remains unknown.

A telephone message left for Elwood Police officials on the morning of July 27 has gone unreturned.

A Freedom of Information Act request sent to the City of Elwood by MSC News later that day, seeking public information pertaining to Newberry's employment, has also gone unanswered.

MSC News on August 10 placed a phone call to Elwood City Hall inquiring about the status of the FOIA request. Kansas law requires response to such requests within three business days. 

Directed to contact the City Attorney's Office, a message left at that number was not immediately returned.

A photo posted on Newberry's now deleted Facebook account/Credit: Facebook