Man charged with child sex abuse waives preliminary hearing

HEBER -- A Heber man accused of child sexual abuse waived a preliminary hearing Monday.

Lon Kennard Sr. is awaiting trial on numerous charges, including 24 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, 21 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of forcible sodomy and one count of witness tampering.

The charges allege the 68-year-old sexually abused two of his adoptive daughters, who are now adults.

Kennard co-founded the "Village of Hope," a charity that helps Ethiopian orphans. He and his wife adopted six children from Ethiopia.

Charges against Lon Kennard Sr.

24 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, 1st-degree felony

21 counts of sex exploitation of a minor, 2nd-degree felony

1 count of forcible sex abuse, 2nd-degree felony

1 count of tampering with witness or juror, 3rd-degree felony