BY ANDY TAYLORTwo Chautauqua County men appeared in district court on Friday to have formal charges presented against them on separate and unrelated crimes.Caleb Shawn Butler, 23, of Sedan was presented with four charges, including aggravated indecent liberties with a minor, aggravated sexual battery, domestic battery, and providing alcohol to minors.In the formal complaint, Butler is charged with allegedly committing indecent liberties with a minor between the ages of 14 to 16 between Dec. 1, 2006, and April 30, 2007.The alleged incident involving aggravated sexual battery took place on Dec. 10, 2007 while the domestic battery incident took place on Dec. 19, 2007.Three different victims were identified by their initials in the court documents.In Friday’s hearing, Magistrate Judge David Casement agreed to lower Butler’s bond from $100,000 to $50,000. Butler, who was represented by Sedan attorney Gary House, said he did not know if he could meet the lowered bond. He will remain in the Elk County Jail pending his payment of the reduced bond.Should Butler be able to provide for his bond, Butler will be required to refrain from any contact with any of the victims in the case.Another court hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m., Aug. 29 in the Chautauqua County Courthouse.Butler was dressed in a sport knit shirt and trousers while being led into the courtroom in leg and arm shackles.Butler is a member of the Sedan Police Department.In another Friday hearing involving alleged sex crimes, Elgin resident Mark L. Morton was formally charged with two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a minor age 14 or younger and one count of kidnapping, all of which are considered level 3 felonies.”These are all very serious charges,” said Magistrate Judge David Casement, adding that if convicted Morton would face “considerable time” in a state prison.Morton, who was dressed in the customary black- and white-striped jail clothing, was represented by Coffeyville attorney Phil Bernhart.A hearing is scheduled for Morton on Oct. 19 in Chautauqua County Court. His bond has been set at $100,000.When asked by Casement if he would be able to pay his bond, Morton indicated that he didn’t believe so.

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