BISMARCK, N.D. – A criminal hearing for the 2014 North Dakota Teacher of the Year accused of sexually assaulting a student was postponed until March.

Attorney Robert Hoy continues to assert that decorated West Fargo High School English teacher Aaron Knodel, 35, is innocent despite evidence that he allegedly molested a 17-year-old student on several occasions between February and March 2009, The Bismarck Tribune reports.

Knodel is charged with five felonies for corruption or solicitation of a minor after a former student provided police with a “Twilight” book that allegedly contains handwritten notes about a relationship between the then 17-year-old and her teacher.

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The alleged victim contends the two engaged in sexual acts in Knodel’s classroom, his home, and her car, but Hoy told the Tribune his client passed a lie detector test and is not guilty.

“There are always two sides to every story,” Hoy said.

Knodel was initially suspended with pay when the allegations surfaced, but was suspended without pay Aug. 25 when he was charged.

Knodel pleaded not guilty Nov. 5 and is scheduled for a five- to seven-day trial beginning March 24. He was expected to attend a dispositional conference this week – a hearing typically used to set a trial date or enter a change of plea – but the meeting was continued to March 10, the Tribune reports.

“Under North Dakota state law, a person under the age of 18 cannot consent to sex, though there’s an exception if both parties are within three years in age. The statute of limitations in allegations of the sexual abuse of minors in North Dakota is seven years from the time of the offense,” according to the news site.

“At the Nov. 5 court appearance, the judge kept Knodel’s bail at $10,000 and said he could continue release on his own recognizance, meaning he didn’t have to post any of the bail amount or be booked into jail.”

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The case was handled by the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation because Knodel has a history with detectives in the West Fargo police department. The teacher served as a lead negotiator for the local West Fargo Education Association union. He was named the 2014 North Dakota Teacher of the Year by the state teachers union, North Dakota United for his work starting a student congress and trivia team at West Fargo High School, according to the Associated Press.

Knodel also coached student speech and debate teams at the school.

Hoy told the AP that Knodel is a great husband and high school teacher whose life is turned upside-down by the allegations, “which will impact him and his family forever.”

“I don’t know why such allegations would arise now, but the passage of time makes it much more difficult for Aaron to defend himself,” Hoy said. “So, until we can have an opportunity to present this case to a jury, I ask that prospective jurors keep an open mind and reserve judgment, despite the salacious allegations that have been made.”