A Douglas County judge Thursday ordered a 34-year-old Lawrence man to go to trial on charges he burglarized a construction vehicle on the Kansas River levee.

Assistant District Attorney Catherine Decena Skinner said during a preliminary hearing that a Lawrence police officer early on Dec. 8 saw Shane Michael Williams walking on the Kansas River bridge and in possession of several items reported stolen from a Kissick Construction Co. pickup truck.

A Kissick Construction surveyor testified that the items, including a laptop computer with licensed software used for repairing the nearby dam, were taken from his vehicle as he was checking the river’s levels that morning just north of downtown.

According to testimony Thursday morning, Williams told police he found the items while walking on the levee. Defense attorney Craig Stancliffe said it was more likely somebody else stole the items and his client simply found them because an hour had lapsed between the alleged vehicle burglary and the time officers saw Williams with the items.

But District Judge Sally Pokorny ordered Williams to stand trial on felony counts of burglary and theft of more than $1,000. Pokorny will arraign Williams on Jan. 3.