Two area men were arraigned in Red Willow County District court Monday, in connection with the April break-in and vandalism of schools in Indianola, Bartley and Culbertson.

Brandon S. Holdcroft, 30, of Indianola, pleaded not guilty to two counts of burglary, Class III felonies, stemming from the April 22 or 23 burglary of Southwest High School in rural Indianola and Southwest Middle School in Bartley.

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He also pleaded guilty Monday to a Class III felony burglary charge filed by Hitchcock County Court, concerning the break-in and theft at the elementary school in Culbertson.

Holdcroft was arraigned on the Hitchcock County burglary charge in District Court in McCook, the same day as other charges.

A motion hearing for the Red Willow County burglaries is set for Sept. 18 at 9:30 a.m. at District Court in McCook. Another motion hearing is set Aug. 20 in Trenton for the Hitchcock County charge.

Also charged in the burglaries was Joshua Fritz, 30, of Indianola. Originally charged with two counts of Class III felony burglaries for the break-in at Southwest High School and Middle School, Fritz pleaded guilty Monday in a plea agreement to one count of burglary, a Class III felony, with the other charge dismissed.

He also pleaded guilty to a Class III felony burglary, filed by Hitchcock County Court, for the theft/break-in of the school in Culbertson. He will be sentenced for both burglary charges Sept. 18 at 3 p.m., in McCook.

Also arraigned Monday for assault charges was Gerald W. Scott, 38, of 208 East C.

Scott pleaded not guilty to first degree assault, a Class III felony, concerning a Jan 21 incident where Scott allegedly punched another patron at a McCook restaurant. According to court records, the victim had to have his mandible and jaw surgically wired shut.

A motion hearing is scheduled July 21 at 11 a.m.