CONEJOS — Parties in the case involving Francisco Andrade, 26, Manassa, are working to resolve the matter, Public Defender Amanda Hopkins told Chief District Judge Pattie Swift during a status hearing in Conejos on Friday.

Andrade has been charged with four felony counts relating to sexual assault on a child. An employee of the Alamosa County Department of Human Services, he was placed on administrative leave when he was arrested on those charges last fall.

Andrade appeared out on bond with Hopkins on Friday.

Hopkins told the judge a counter proposal for a plea had been submitted to Chief Trial Deputy District Attorney Ashley Fetyko the previous day, and she had not yet heard back from her. Hopkins added that there were no pending motions requiring testimony at this point, and she asked for another status hearing in about a month.

Judge Swift scheduled another status conference for May 18.

Hopkins also told the judge on Friday that the complaining witnesses in this matter have scheduled several meetings with the DA’s office to make their wishes clear on how they wanted this case to be resolved. She said she hoped the conversations were continuing, but “they have been shut down to a certain extent in those efforts.”

Hopkins added that the adult complaining witness in the case was present in court on Friday to make sure her family’s wishes were known. She did not detail further what those wishes entailed.

Andrade had waived his right to a preliminary hearing in county court, and his case had advanced into district court in Conejos.