Former Mercy athletic trainer bound over for trial on sex charges involving 3 Carthage High School students

A 9 a.m. September 29 arraignment is scheduled for former Mercy athletic trainer Ryan Keith Palmer, 53, Carthage, who was bound over for trial Wednesday following a preliminary hearing in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Palmer is charged with four counts of sexual contact with a student and two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree for allegedly assaulting three Carthage High School students.

Palmer was working at the school as part of Mercy's contract with the Carthage R-9 School District to provide athletic trainer services.

Though the crimes were allegedly committed against three victims, Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Theresa Kenney combined them into one case, something she said could be done if "they arise from a related pattern of behavior, involve similar methods, or rely on overlapping evidence."