LINDEN — Former Demopolis High School teacher and assistant coach Nathan Wesley Hallman did not appear Wednesday for arraignment at the Marengo County Courthouse.

Instead, Hallman waived arraignment through his attorney.

Hallman is under indictment for second-degree (statutory) rape and enticing a child for immoral purposes.

Both charges are felonies.

Hallman is accused of having sex with an underage female student, which came to light in March.

Hallman then attempted to resign, DHS principal Dr. Isaac Espy said. However, Espy and DCS Superintendent Dr. L. Wayne Vickers both refused to accept Hallman’s resignation.

Instead, the pair referred the matter to the school board, which opted to fire Hallman and refer his case to the state board of education, which has the right to revoke teaching credentials.

Hallman was replaced by a former DHS teacher for the remainder of the 2007-08 academic year.

The grand jury returned Hallman’s indictment as one of more than 70 true bills in June.

Traditionally, waiver of arraignment is often a sign that the accused is working on some form of plea bargain, however, Hallman’s attorney was unavailable for comment and the district attorney’s office does not comment on pending cases.