Case against former childcare worker moves forward - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Eau Claire (WQOW)- The case against a former child care worker could be one step closer to a trial. On Tuesday, a preliminary hearing was held in the case against Thomas West.

West is a former employee of the Altoona Family Child Care Center. He is accused of assaulting a four-year-old boy who attended the day care center and a six-year-old boy who is the son of a family friend.  Two files of child porn were also found on his computer.

On Tuesday witnesses were called to the stand to give their testimony.  Two members of the Altoona Police Department answered questions about the investigation before the judge decided there was enough evidence to take this case to trial.

"There will be some scheduling matters, there are other things that happen before a trial that would normally take time, so we'll just have to wait and see," says Eau Claire County District Attorney Brian Wright. "But this was the step that leads to a trial and so we are getting closer to that trial date being scheduled."

Last week bond for West was set at $20,000.