Garrett Luttrell

A Butler man accused of sexually assaulting a girl over nearly four years was ordered Monday to stand trial on nearly 500 sex-related charges, after a testy and at-times gruesome preliminary hearing.

Garrett A. Luttrell, 34, faces 470 criminal counts in the case. He is charged with statutory sexual assault, 156 counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault, and corruption of minors. All the charges are felonies.

Luttrell also faces 156 misdemeanor counts of indecent assault in the case, which began on April 13, after county Children and Youth Services workers were told by a 13-year-old girl that she had seen Luttrell sexually assaulting another girl several nights before.

The alleged victim told police and CYS workers that Luttrell had sexually abused her over a period of several years, starting when she was about 11 years old. She said the abuse occurred at Luttrell's home on Carnegie Street in Butler, according to court documents, and that he warned her not to tell anyone, saying he would go to jail and would kill himself.

As prosecutors laid out parts of their case before District Judge William Fullerton on Monday, defense attorney Devin O'Leary repeatedly called into question the investigation into the allegations.

O'Leary asked patrolman Eric Klopfer, the city officer who is leading the case, why he believed the girls to be credible witnesses, pointing out that their statements to investigators were “contradictory.”

The girl who initially reported the abuse told investigators that she saw Luttrell performing a sexual act on her, according to court documents. The same filing shows that the victim told investigators that she was performing a sexual act on Luttrell when they were caught.

O'Leary also repeatedly asked Klopfer, who had testified about the police investigation, about evidence gathered and interviews performed in the case, arguing that police had failed to thoroughly investigate the allegations.

O'Leary said police had not interviewed Luttrell, and had not interviewed the girls or their mother before charging Luttrell in the case.

“He didn't do an investigation,” O'Leary argued Monday. “All (police) did was attend two forensic interviews with two children whose statements are contradictory.”

Assistant District Attorney Terri Schultz repeatedly objected to O'Leary's questions Monday. Those objections were repeatedly sustained by Fullerton, who ultimately ordered Luttrell to stand trial on all charges.

O'Leary also questioned Klopfer on the alleged victim's claim that Luttrell's sexual abuse had resulted in her getting pregnant multiple times, and that she suffered multiple miscarriages. According to court documents, the girl said Luttrell knew about the pregnancies and miscarriages.

Fullerton denied a motion by O'Leary to have Luttrell's bond modified or to be placed under house arrest.

Luttrell remains in Butler County Prison on $100,000 bond.