Kenneth Hatch, on indefinite unpaid leave from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, was due in Knox County Court on Oct. 27 for a deferred disposition conference. However, the case was continued until Feb. 16, 2017.

Hatch had been indicted and subsequently arraigned on 22 counts of sexual abuse of three teenagers, and drug charges. The drugs were alleged to have originated as evidence in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office’s possession.

Although the February proceeding is scheduled to take place in Knox County, there has been no formal change of venue.