A Bowling Green man accused of misconduct with local high school students was in court for a status pretrial.

Zachary Gibson, 31, appeared Thursday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman. A telephone status pretrial was scheduled for March 16.

The jury trial scheduled for April 18-20 was confirmed.

Gibson was indicted in June for two counts of sexual battery, both third-degree felonies; two counts of illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, both fifth-degree felonies; and attempted illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, also a fifth-degree felony.

At the time of the accusations, Gibson was a strength and conditioning coach at Bowling Green High School and was employed by Fastrak Performance. The company has since permanently closed.

In October, the state offered Gibson a deal that if Gibson pleaded guilty to one sexual battery charge, the remaining charges would be dismissed at sentencing.

He rejected the offer.

According to the indictment, Gibson allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with the same 16-year-old while he was a coach “or otherwise in a position of temporary or occasional disciplinary control over the boy.”

The offenses reportedly occurred on or about March 1-April 30 while Gibson worked with the baseball and basketball teams at Bowling Green High School.

Eight minors have been subpoenaed for the trial, according to court documents.

Gibson was never employed directly by the school district. He was let go on April 4 by Fastrak Performance after the company was notified of unspecified allegations.

Gibson, who was found guilty 12 years ago of a misdemeanor sex offense, was an independent contractor hired to fill the BGHS position.

Theft charges that were filed against Gibson in August have been dismissed.