CLINTON COUNTY — The Clinton County State’s Attorney’s Office filed additional charges Friday against a 42-year-old New Baden man already facing felony sex crime charges.

Nickolas W. Bethard was arrested and charged in February with charges of Class 1 felony criminal sexual assault and Class 2 aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim between the ages of 13 and 17. Bethard was later charged with Class 3 felony aggravated battery in a public place and misdemeanor battery.

He was held in the Clinton County Jail since his February arrest with bond set at $75,000.

In May of this year, he entered into a plea agreement with the state in which he plead guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor battery, and in the first case he pleaded “open” to the Class 1 felony criminal sexual assault in exchange for the other charges being dismissed.

Per the plea agreement, the state agreed to not file any additional charges for any incidents known to prosecutors involving the alleged victim in the case and the court ordered a sex offender evaluation. Despite Bethard’s objection, he was also ordered to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

Both cases were scheduled for sentencing at the end of July but in early July prosecutors withdrew their request for a sex offender evaluation and the defense requested a new presentence investigation. Sentencing was ultimately rescheduled for August 26.

Instead, on Friday the state filed new charges against Bethard of Class 1 felony child pornography and Class 2 child pornography.

All three cases were continued and a status hearing on all cases was scheduled for August 31.

Due to the sensitive nature of the cases, the prosecutor’s office declined to release any additional information on the cases against Nickolas Bethard in an effort to protect the victim.