East county man faces child molestation charges

A criminal complaint was filed Tuesday in Yuma Justice Court against an east county man for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old girl.

Although his attorney Michael Donovan waved the formal reading of the complaint and advisement of his client's rights, court records indicate Gerald Norman Hansley was charged with two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of molestation of a child.

He was arraigned before Yuma Justice of the Peace David Cooper, who ordered that he could be released to pre-trial services if electronic monitoring equipment was available and if it was attached to him while he was still at the jail.

"If (pre-trail service) doesn't, then the bond will remain the same," Cooper said.

Cooper granted Hansley's release after Donovan had argued for it during a condition of release hearing, held following the arraignment.

Donovan had argued his client's rights were being violated because the jail would not return his hearing aids and that he couldn't communicate with his client as a result.

Cooper also scheduled Hansley's next court date, a preliminary hearing, for April 2 at 4:45 p.m.