Trial Of Marshall Teacher Charged With Sexual Abuse Delayed

A former Marshall High School teacher facing charges related to alleged sexual abuse of a student has now had his trial delayed.

The Battle Creek Enquirer says that the trial of 33-year-old Jason Bushong was supposed to start Wednesday morning, on charges of first and third degree criminal sexual conduct. However, the defense asked to adjourn because certain reports and documents had not been provided by the prosecution, or had only been provided very recently.

In one case, a video interview of the victim was lost; according to the prosecutor's office, the hard drive on which the video was stored was was even sent to the manufacturer in an attempt to recover the data. As a result of this and other delays in providing reports to the defense, the Calhoun County judge ordered that the trial be delayed until at least September.

Prosecutors say that Bushong had sex with the victim while she was 15 and 16; the alleged crimes were discovered after the victim’s mother discovered them in a car at his home in Bedford Township.

If convicted of all charges, Bushong faces life in prison.