One of eight Ellis County Volunteer Firefighters stood before a judge Tuesday morning for arraignment.
District Judge Bob Carroll changed William Hamilton Getzendaner’s from a 3rd degree felony to a 1st degree felony for tampering with a witness.
Getzendaner is one of eight firefighters charged in the sexual assault investigation. Some of the others will be arraigned Tuesday afternoon.
Jason Waldeck, 20, was also at the courthouse for the arraignment. Waldeck filed a complaint after he said his fellow volunteer firefighters sexually assaulted him in January.
According to court documents, the incident happened at the volunteer fire department.
Detectives said Waldeck was sexually assaulted by other members of his department. Eight people, including the chief, assistant chief and a lieutenant have been indicted for their alleged roles in the attack and attempts to cover it up.
Judge Carroll set Getzendaner’s pre-trial hearing for February 3rd.
