FAYETTE COUNTY — A 29-year-old former Illinois State Police trooper has been charged in Fayette County Court with nine new counts of sexual assault in a separate case from one filed earlier this month in connection to his time as a teacher at Vandalia Community High School.

James Dierkes was arrested earlier this month on two charges of Class 1 felony criminal sexual assault of a person between the ages of 13 and 17 who was under his supervision. Immediately following his arrest Dierkes was relieved of duty as an ISP trooper.

Bail for Dierkes had been set at $1 million following his arrest and he has remained in the Fayette County Jail since his December 6 arrest. Bail on the new charges was set at $500,000 and is separate from the original $1 million. If released on bond, he is prohibited from having contact with his alleged victims or anyone under the age of 18.

He was scheduled to appear in court Thursday for a hearing on a motion to reduce his bail on the original charges in which two victims alleged inappropriate sexual contact on multiple occasions in 2016 when Dierkes’ was a teacher.

He will instead be formally charged in court Thursday with an additional nine Class 1 felony sex offenses.

Dierkes had been with the state police since 2018. He is next scheduled to appear in court January 14, 2020.