FRANKLIN—An Isle of Wight Sheriff’s deputy accused of sex acts with a teenage girl is set to appear in a Franklin courtroom for a preliminary hearing early next year.

Ronald Carwile was arrested and charged in March after the alleged crimes were reported to Franklin police. The crimes allegedly took place between September 2009 and January 2010, according to police.

The preliminary hearing—where a judge will decide if there is sufficient evidence for the case to move forward—is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 2:30 p.m. in Franklin Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

Because Carwile’s defense attorneys have indicated they plan to call Southampton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Cooke as a witness, Cooke’s office is not handling the case.

Kim White, the commonwealth’s attorney in Halifax County, is prosecuting Carwile.