Hearing in raffle case set for May

A preliminary hearing has been set for the Rev. David Butler, who faces two felony charges in what prosecutors describe as a $10,000 raffle scam in which he promised that the winning ticket holder would get a new car.

Butler appeared at an arraignment Tuesday before Judge Scott Thomsen, who set a preliminary hearing for 2 p.m. May 24.

Butler, the director of the Shepherd's Cove children's home near Gordonville, is accused of keeping the proceeds from the raffle, in which no car was ever awarded and none of the money went to the home.

Butler faces charges of stealing by deceit and unlawful merchandising practices. The arrest warrant says Butler appropriated about $9,671 between September and February. Police say Butler shifted the money from a raffle account to his personal account and used the money for "personal business."

The prosecutor for the case, Gordon Glaus, said the preliminary hearing date may change as he has another court matter that may conflict with that date.