Dierkes Trial in Fayette County Now Set for January

The Fayette County criminal trial of James Dierkes is now scheduled for January.

The 29-year-old Dierkes is charged with numerous counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault. The offenses allegedly occurred while Dierkes was working at Okaw Area Vocational Center in Vandalia in 2016.

Dierkes later left the employment of the Vandalia school district to join the Illinois State Police. Once Dierkes was charged, the State Police fired him.

4th Circuit Chief Judge Kimberly Koester Thursday scheduled a trial for Dierkes beginning January 18, with a pre-trial hearing on January 7.

Dierkes is being held in Fayette County Jail under $1 million bond.