Former Grand Island firefighter pleads not guilty to felony charges

A former firefighter from Grand Island, Nebraska, is awaiting trial on charges of child enticement and abuse. Jared Stockwell, 47, submitted a written not guilty plea on Monday to two felony charges: enticement by electronic communication device and intentional child abuse without injury.
Stockwell has requested permission from the judge to interrogate the alleged victim and to compel prosecutors to disclose evidence against him, including information from a jailhouse informant. As of Tuesday morning, the judge had not made decisions on these motions or set a trial date.
The arrest of Stockwell occurred on July 1, following suspicions of his using an electronic device to entice a minor. According to a Hall County Sheriff’s report, he allegedly sent sexually explicit messages to a 13-year-old girl. Formal charges were filed in August, leading to Stockwell’s resignation from the Grand Island Fire Department on September 25.