KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Jeff Henry, Schlitterbahn's co-owner, left the Wyadnotte County, Kan., jail on Wednesday morning having posted bond, just hours after he arrived in Kansas following extradition from Texas.
Henry is facing charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated child endangerment in the 2016 death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab.
Henry, who has been held in custody since his arrest last week at his home in Cameron County, Texas, was booked into the Wyandotte County jail shortly before 2 a.m., according to jail logs.
He was not seen leaving the jail after making bond, which was set at $50,000.
His attorney, Carl Cornwell, spoke to reporters gathered at the Wyandotte County Courthouse, where he said that he intends to "aggressively fight this."
"This indictment which suggests that my client did this under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life is ridiculous," Cornwell said.
Henry is due before Wyandotte County Judge a Robert Burns on Thursday afternoon.
Cornwell said the hearing would discuss whether Henry would require Global Positioning System tracking while out on bond. Cornwell said he would dispute the need for that, saying his client is not a flight risk.
Cornwell met Henry for the first time. He said Henry expressed compassion and concern.
"What they're trying to do with my client is say that he just didn't give a damn," Cornwell said. "That's really what this is about, that he didn't give a damn about anybody sliding down that water slide. That is the furthest thing from the truth."
Also charged is Henry & Sons Construction Co., a contractor controlled by Henry and the Schlitterbahn corporation in Kansas.
Schooley was arrested Monday evening at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport by U.S. marshals after arriving on a flight from China. He was being held in the Dallas County jail without bond and was expected to be taken to Kansas for a first appearance before a Wyandotte County judge.
Schooley had been working on a project in Asia when a grand jury handed down indictments.
Tyler Miles, director of operations for the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kan., also was charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery and aggravated endangerment of a child. Miles is accused of interfering with law enforcement by allegedly not turning over documents to investigators and coaching Schlitterbahn employees to alter statements in accident reports.
