James Howard-George

Of two cases against a Butler man accused of having sex with an underage girl and assaulting another, only the lesser one moved forward Monday. The second was continued because of technical difficulties.

Remaining in Butler County Prison on a combined $150,000 bond, James Howard-George, 28, appeared virtually for two preliminary hearings before District Judge William Fullerton. Public defender Michael McFarland appeared in court to defend Howard-George.

Howard-George has been on parole since Jan. 30, when he was sentenced for his guilty plea regarding his involvement in the murder of Melissa Barto, 26, of Butler. Howard-George had pleaded guilty to helping his friend, Ishemer Ramsey, 25, burn and hide the body of Barto in Lawrence County in 2017.

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