Trial again delayed in rape of Neb. student

AUBURN, Neb. (AP) — Another delay has been ordered in the trial of a man suspected of raping a Peru State College student.

Records filed in Nemaha County District Court show 29-year-old Joshua Keadle’s trial was been moved from Sept. 13 to Dec. 5. His trial had originally been set for April but the judge has agreed to several delays.

Keadle, a suspended student originally from Swansea, S.C., has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, false imprisonment and terroristic threats in the alleged assault of the student on Halloween. The charges were filed after his arrest in the disappearance of student Tyler “Ty” Thomas, who was last seen Dec. 3.

Nemaha County Attorney Louie Ligouri has said Keadle is the only suspect or person of interest in the Thomas case.