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Craig — A 38-year-old Craig man accused of alleged sexual offenses was released from custody Thursday afternoon following a Moffat County Court judge's ruling.

The suspect faces 10 total charges, including multiple counts of aggravated incest and sexual assault by someone in a position of trust, all Class 3 felonies.

Judge Sandra Gardner ordered the man released on personal recognizance, but increased his bond amount from $30,000 to $50,000. The state would put a judgment for that amount on the defendant if he didn't appear for court or violated stipulations, the judge said.

Gardner's order is contingent upon the defendant, whose name is being withheld in accordance with newspaper policies, follow strict guidelines.

Those guidelines include living at his mother's home in Meeker, complying with an existing restraining order and having no contact with anyone younger than 18 years old.

The Moffat County Sheriff's Office arrested the man in December 2007 after receiving information that he assaulted a child believed to be a family member. He had been in custody at the Moffat County Jail for about three weeks.

The defendant's attorney, public defender Sheryl Uhlmann, requested the court "significantly" lower the man's bond so he could help financially support his family. Members of his family, including his brother, wife and mother attended the hearing Thursday.

He has a job available to him at a local coalmine and his family relies on income that employment provides, Uhlmann said.

She also told the court that the suspect has family in the area, ties to the community and no criminal record.

Prosecutor Matthew Barrett, of the 14th Judicial District Attorney's Office, opposed the defense's request.

He said the defendant's ties to the community don't outweigh the seriousness of the charges, and that his alleged crimes were committed against family, or "those people the defendant claims he loves so dearly."

If convicted, the defendant could face a sentence ranging from 4 years to life in prison.

Judge Gardner, who acknowledged the "extreme severity of these charges," warned the defendant that he would be putting himself and his family at risk should he violate any terms of his release.

In other news

Craig man Keone Ikaika Beaulieu-Kalilikane, who was charged with robbing a local Kum & Go convenience store in September, reached a plea agreement Thursday afternoon in Moffat County Court.

Beaulieu-Kalilikane, 20, pleaded guilty to robbery, a Class 4 felony. The charge was amended from robbery aggravated possession of a simulated weapon, a Class 3 felony.

Police contend Beaulieu-Kalilikane entered the Kum & Go location, 700 E. Victory Way, dressed in black clothing and wearing a ski mask covering his face.

After a few minutes, he approached the clerk displaying a handgun and demanded money from the cash register, according to police.

Some of the clothing and the handgun, which turned out to be a toy, were found in a building located on the Moffat County Fairgrounds.

Judge Gardner said the defendant faces two to six years in prison and also can be fined between $2,000 and $500,000.

He will be sentenced at 1 p.m. Feb. 14.