COEUR d'ALENE - A 32-year-old science teacher at Venture High School could face up to life in prison if found guilty of sexual abuse charges filed Monday in Kootenai County.

At his first appearance in district court on Tuesday, Daniel Taylor was told by Judge James Stow that he is being charged with two counts of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16 and one count of rape.

Sgt. Christie Wood of the Coeur d'Alene Police Department said the agency learned of the allegations against Taylor last week. Wood added that the alleged victim was 5 years old at the time of the first incident and will soon turn 7.

Taylor waived his right to have the specifics of the charges read in court and told Stow he would be hiring an attorney.

The Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office recommended a $150,000 bond for Taylor, citing a 2010 conviction for violation of a child protective order in Colorado.

Stow set Taylor's bail at $50,000 under the stipulation that Taylor first sign a no-contact order barring him from contacting his three children.

Taylor has worked at Venture High School, an alternative school formerly known as Project CDA, since 2011.

In a written statement, Coeur d'Alene School District representatives said Taylor has been placed on administrative leave, and they are working closely with the police investigators.

"The police department confirmed that the allegations and charges do not involve any of Mr. Taylor's students at Venture High School, nor did any of the alleged events occur on school property," the statement reads.

Additionally, the statement said the school district has a "strong support system" of school counselors and administrators who are available to "provide support" to any staff member or student.

"The school district's primary focus is to ensure that the day-to-day business of educating our students continues with minimal disruption, while respecting Mr. Taylor's privacy as he manages a personal matter that has become very public," the statement reads.