Former Vandalia teacher and Illinois State Trooper James Dierkes of Donnellson remains in the Fayette County jail, as his criminal cases continue.
A pre-trial conference is scheduled for August 6 in Fayette County Circuit Court.
The 30-year-old Dierkes faces felony charges of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and 11 counts of criminal sexual assault. The state alleges the defendant committed the offenses with two of his students while he was teaching at the Okaw Valley Vocational Center.
Dierkes is being held on $1 million bond.
