Train volunteer waives preliminary hearing

A volunteer at the Mills Park train waived his preliminary hearing, possibly indicating he will enter a plea on a charge of lewdness of a minor.

James Howard, 57, signed a waiver Thursday, just as the hearing was set begin to determine if there was enough evidence to try Howard on a felony charge of open and gross lewdness.

According to court documents, Howard took the 5-year-old daughter of a friend to the train station with him on Oct. 13 and kissed and fondled her in the station's employee bathroom. When the girl returned home, she told her mother Howard made her cry and then revealed he touched her, documents indicate.

During a taped interview, Howard initially denied the incident, then allegedly confessed, the arrest report states.

According to Dick Campbell, president of the Carson City Railroad Association, Howard has been a member of the nonprofit organization for at least 18 years. He is also on the association's board of directors and does various jobs as a volunteer at the park's train which is run by the Carson City Railroad Association.

Howard remains in custody on $25,000 bail.

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.