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MARQUETTE - A Marquette teacher accused of criminal sexual conduct was bound over to Marquette's 25th Circuit Court Monday after a judge decided there was probable cause to send the case forward.

Kevin Wilson, 49, a teacher at Bothwell Middle School, is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a former student. At the preliminary examination held Monday, District Court Judge Dennis Girard said the case could proceed to circuit court after hearing testimony from the alleged victim of the crime.

The woman, who is not being identified, is now 28, but said she was 15 and one of his students when a sexual relationship with Wilson began.

Prosecutor Matt Wiese and defense attorney Scott Brogan questioned her about a timeline of the relationship, and established the two sexual encounters the charges are related to occurred in 1996 at a cabin in Chocolay Township. The woman said she and Wilson continued to have an intimate relationship throughout her high school years.

"He assured me I was the only one and that I was special to him. Now that this is all unfolding, I realize there were others," the woman said in court.

Wiese said Wilson admitted to sexual acts with four other female students from a period from 1988 to 1996, and prosecutors are considering information from a sixth, more recent, witness.

For the charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, the suspect must be in a position of authority and have used that position to coerce or otherwise force the victim.

Brogan argued because the relationship was consensual, there was not any proof of coercion.

Wiese argued Wilson put pressure on the girl by saying he would lose his job and his marriage if their relationship ever became public.

She said she told him, "It would also ruin me - my friends and family and the community; how would they see me?"

Wiese said the girl was not truly in a position to choose.

"He's the adult with 20 more years of experience who let this go on, and she was not of an age of consent to say yes or no," he said.

Girard concluded although the girl consented to the acts, there was still a likelihood she was coerced.

"The law concludes you are not of the age of consent at age 15," he said. "I believe there is probable cause for coercion, saying he was going to lose his wife, saying she was the only one. These are things that have an impact on a 15-year-old. I do believe there was constructive coercion."

Girard also denied Brogan's request to have Wilson's $200,000 cash bond reduced.

The defense asked to have it reduced to $20,000, but Girard agreed with Wiese, who argued Wilson poses a threat to the community.

Wilson did not speak during the proceedings. He is set to appear in circuit court Nov. 5 for pre-trial proceedings or arraignment.