Covey arrested on eight counts of sex crimes against a minor

Richard L. Covey, 49 of Topeka, Kan., was arrested by the Vernon County Sheriff's department on Tuesday, Oct. 20 on several charges stemming from a warrant issued pursuant to a probable cause statement filed by the Vernon County prosecutor on April 15, 2009.

Covey is being held in the Vernon County jail on three felony counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree and five class B felony counts of child molestation in the first degree.

Covey is being held in the Vernon County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

The charges against Covey were filed as a result of information a victim during January of 2009. According to court documents, Covey is alleged to have initiated inappropriate sexual contact with the victim through the victim's clothing and without a barrier of clothing on several occasions dating back as far as 1997 when the victim was less than 10 years of age and continuing until 2004.

Covey had been accused of such charges once before and his answers to relevant questions during a voice stress test conducted by then Fire Marshal Bruce Thurlow showed deception, according to court documents. Covey has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. No court dates have been set at this time.