News Photo by Julie Riddle Judge Thomas LaCross and defendant Nathan Benton wait for a court hearing to resume in Alpena’s 88th District Court on Thursday.

ALPENA — An Alpena County man took the next step toward trial following a court hearing on Thursday in Alpena’s 88th District Court.

Nathan Benton, 37, is accused of sexually assaulting a child on multiple occasions, when the girl was 8.

The News does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault.

Defense attorneys Alan Curtis and Matt Wojda pressed the child and the Michigan State Police trooper in charge of the investigation, both of whom testified on Thursday, about information the child did not disclose when first interviewed but later testified to in court.

Judge Thomas LaCross said the witnesses provided enough evidence for Benton to continue toward trial.

Benton will be arraigned in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court in coming weeks on charges of first-degree sexual assault of a minor. If found guilty, he could face a sentence of up to life in prison.

LaCross dismissed charges of aggravated indecent exposure and soliciting a child for immoral purposes, saying the prosecution had provided insufficient evidence to support those charges.

Benton was freed after his November arrest by payment of 10% of a $100,000 bond. After hearing details of the case at Benton’s preliminary examination — at which a judge decides if there is enough evidence for a case to proceed toward trial — LaCross raised Benton’s bond to $200,000 cash or surety.

The defense vigorously argued against the increase. No other allegations have been made against Benton, and he is not a risk to the community, they contended.

Raising Benton’s bond is, essentially, a punishment for not waiving his exam, Curtis told the court.

LaCross said he would have assigned a different bond to Benton in the first place, and that, having heard the details of the case, he felt a more restrictive bond was warranted.

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX.