News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Defense Attorney Bill Pfeifer takes notes during Nickolas Corey’s hearing in the Alcona County 81st District Court on Wednesday.

HARRISVILLE — Nickolas Corey, 23, appeared in the 81st District Court in Alcona on Wednesday for a probable cause conference, where attorneys discussed his upcoming preliminary examination.

Corey is charged with first degree child abuse. He was arraigned on Jan. 7 and his bond was set at $500,000, 10%.

According to a press release from the Alcona County Sheriff’s Office, an infant child has extensive injuries from suspected child abuse. The investigation into the suspected child abuse began on May 24.

At Wednesday’s hearing, Defense Attorney Bill Pfeifer said that there is quite a bit of additional discovery that he will be receiving from Alcona Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Reed, including some body cam footage.

Reed said she is working on obtaining medical records from the MyMichigan healthcare system as well.

Corey’s preliminary examination was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but will be moved to 9 a.m. on Feb. 20. That examination will likely take all day, Pfeifer believes, due to the amount of discovery and the need for sign language interpreters.

Reed said that two to three of the witnesses are deaf. Each of those witnesses will need their own interpreter, with one interpreter for the court, meaning there will be at least three interpreters on the day of the preliminary examination.

Judge Laura Frawley informed Corey of his right to have a preliminary examination within 21 days of arraignment, which he chose to waive.

Corey’s co-defendant, Sabrina Horton, 22, also charged with first degree child abuse, is scheduled to have her next hearing at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Her preliminary examination, which is scheduled for Jan. 28, is likely to be adjourned once she obtains a court-appointed attorney, Reed said.

It is yet to be decided whether each defendant will have their own preliminary examination or if the evidence will be brought against both at once. Preliminary examinations are undertaken to determine probable cause, which means there is enough evidence to conclude that a felony was committed and that the defendant committed it. If probable cause is determined for Horton, Corey, or both, their cases will be bound over to the 23rd Circuit Court.