CANON CITY -- A former Canon City police patrol division commander charged with three counts of official misconduct made his first court appearance Tuesday.

William Ray, who had worked at the police department for 7 1/2 years, is charged with three counts of first-degree official misconduct, which are misdemeanors. Ray appeared in court with Denver attorney Jeffrey Eidsness, who requested a pretrial conference.

Ray will return to court Tuesday for the conference, during which he can "enter a not guilty plea and we can set the case for trial, or enter into a plea agreement," said Fremont County Court Judge Norman Cooling.

According to Canon City Police Chief Daric Harvey, Ray was placed on paid administrative leave Sept. 6 when the Colorado Bureau of Investigation started looking into allegations that Ray had allegedly assaulted a friend at his home.

Ray was placed on leave without pay on Sept. 26 when charges were filed; he resigned Sept. 27, according to Harvey.

The charges stem from an Aug. 26 incident during which Ray was "a public servant" who acted "with intent to obtain a benefit for any person or maliciously cause harm to another, unlawfully and knowingly committed an act relating to his office but constituting an unauthorized exercise of his official function," according to a charging document.

Prior to working for the Canon City Police Department, Ray served with the Castle Rock Police Department.

tharmon@chieftain.com