Larry Williams, 50, has filed an appeal with the Nebraska Court of Appeals, saying his rights were violated when the Buffalo County District Court judge who presided over his first trial declared a mistrial. Neither Williams nor his attorney were present at the time.

Williams, who now lives in Holdrege, was on trial for six counts of first-degree sexual assault and one charge of sexual assault of a child.

He's accused of having a sexual relationship with a girl from 2002 to 2004 starting when the girl was 14.

Williams, a Ravenna police officer at the time of the alleged incidents, has denied any wrongdoing.

His first trial ended in a mistrial in October after a jury could not reach a verdict in seven hours of deliberation.

Since then, Williams has been charged with two additional counts of first-degree sexual assault.

First-degree sexual assault is a Class II felony punishable by up to 50 years in prison. Sexual assault of a child is a Class III felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison.