VANDALIA, IL — The cases against a 31-year-old former Illinois State Police trooper accused in Fayette County Court of multiple counts sexual assault has been delayed after the judge in the case has recused himself from the proceeding. James Dierkes was arrested in December 2019 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.

Dierkes was then charged before his preliminary hearing in that case with an additional nine Class 1 felony sex offenses. On Tuesday, Judge Marc Kelly recused himself from the case when it was discovered he personally knows a witness in the case. Judge Kelly’s wife also works for Vandalia High School. The offenses are alleged to have happened when Dierkes worked with the Vandalia High School and before he became a state trooper. For months a plea agreement seemed likely in the two cases; however, in court Tuesday it became apparent that no plea agreement could be reached and the case was continued until a motion hearing on August 31.

Dierkes remains in the Fayette County Jail as the case continues.