Courtroom gavel

Warren C. Potts, 51, of 822 Grampian Blvd., will stand trial on charges of unlawful contact with a minor — sexual offenses, indecent exposure, corruption of minors and intimidation of a victim, following a preliminary hearing held before District Judge Aaron Biichle Thursday morning.

Potts engaged in an inappropriate course of conduct with two males when both were between the ages of 7 and 12 years old, prosecutors allege.

At the hearing, a 25 year old male testified that when he was 10 to 12 years old, Potts would regularly go into the bathroom when he would get in the shower and would watch as he took his clothes off.

The alleged victim stated that Potts would enter the bathroom, which he said was not allowed to be locked, and watch as he undressed.

Potts would threaten him to keep quiet about the incidents, the alleged victim testified.

“If you (expletive) tell anyone, you’ll see what I (expletive) do to you,” Potts allegedly told him.

Potts also allegedly exposed himself several times.

“I felt demoralized, abused and uncomfortable,” the male told the court.

“A kid should never have to see that,” he said, adding, “you should just know as an adult not to do that. It’s an image I can’t get out of my head.”

When he would voice his discomfort, Potts would simply laugh, the alleged victim said.

In a separate incident, he testified that Potts had forced him to consume alcohol when he was 14, though there was no sexual contact at this time.

Asked by defense attorney Kyle Rude how many times the inappropriate touching took place, the alleged victim could not give a specific number.

“Once was more than enough for me,” he said.

A second alleged victim testified that he had similar encounters with Potts, telling the court that he was “scared” of Potts.

Asked by Rude if anyone had told him to say that he was afraid of Potts, the minor said, “no,” but stated that he did not know why he was scared of him.

At the close of the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Welickovitch attempted to add a charge of corruption of minors in reference to the alcohol allegation.

Rude objected, arguing that the charge had not been previously filed, that it was not established during testimony that alcohol was in fact involved and that there was no chance to cross examine the alleged victim on the allegation.

Biichle agreed, ruling that the charge would not proceed.

Biichle immediately ruled that all charges would be held over.

A trial date has not been set yet.