UPDATE: McNear to Plead Not Guilty in Court Dec. 28

After appearing for the first time in Municipal Court Wednesday on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, Councilman-elect Sean McNear's case was transferred to the Morris County courthouse in Morristown where his attorney said he plans to enter a not guilty plea.

McNear, 43, was arrested in November after authorities said he allegedly choked and punched his 7-year-old son, in addition to pointing a loaded BB gun at him over the past two years.

McNear's attorney, Peter Gilbreth, said McNear wished to waive Judge John A. Paparazzo's reading the complaint in court Wednesday and the judge said since the complaints are indictable, the case would be transferred to the county court. McNear was given a date to appear on Dec. 28 at 9 a.m.

Paparazzo also said that McNear could be eligible for Pre-Trial Intervention, which is typically offered to first-time offenders in lieu of jail time and can include community service or counseling.

McNear on the Butler Council in November's election. He has not indicated that he does not plan to be sworn in and serve on the borough council beginning in January, but Borough Attorney Robert Oostdyk has said McNear also serves as an alternate on the borough's planning board.

Gilbreth said he was unable to further comment on the case.

"It's so early in the process, we have to get a lot of information before things start going," he said.