Former Dean of Students Justin X. Carroll appeared before federal Judge David D. Noce for a pretrial hearing yesterday morning, with Noce ruling that enough evidence exists to send the case to trial. Noce also set a date for the next step in trial proceedings—evidentiary hearings, which will be held on April 26, according to the clerk’s office of the Eastern District of Missouri United States District Court.

Carroll pled not guilty to indictment charges of child pornography Feb. 8, nine days after the charges were brought against him by the U.S. Attorney’s office Jan. 30. The not guilty plea allowed Carroll to review some of the evidence against him before yesterday’s pretrial hearing, at which he and his attorney decided to move forward with the trial.

During his tenure at Washington University, Carroll served in various capacities—including interim athletic director and director of student activities—before being barred from campus Dec. 20, the day the University learned of the federal investigation. Carroll announced his retirement Jan. 5, which went into effect as of Feb. 1.

At the evidentiary hearing, the prosecution will produce witness testimony and other evidence in attempt to establish that the defendant, Carroll, is likely to have committed the crime. Carroll will not have the opportunity to argue for his innocence at the hearing, but can cross-examine the prosecution’s witnesses, if any are produced, to prove the prosecution has not met the necessary burden of proof.