SANDPOINT - A Bonner County man accused of lewd conduct and possession of sexually exploitive material waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Adam Michael Pugh's waiver clears the way for his arraignment in 1st District Court on July 6. He is charged with one count of lewd conduct and seven counts of possessing sexually exploitive material.

Pugh, 33, was arrested last month on the lewd conduct charge involving a teen and posted a $100,000 bail to secure his release. The investigation in the lewd conduct case led to the discovery of images of the teen in the nude and engaged in sex acts, according to court documents.

Pugh was re-arrested and charged with seven counts of essentially possessing child pornography. His bail was set at $350,000.

In exchange for not compelling the state to demonstrate that it has enough evidence to justify a trial in 1st District Court, Pugh was released on his own recognizance in the child porn possession case.

The investigation of Pugh also led to the filing of criminal charges against his former wife, Kathryn Leanne Howard. She is charged with one count of lewd conduct and five counts of possessing sexually exploitive material.

The charges against Howard involve the same teen with whom Pugh is accused of having a sexual relationship.

Howard, 34, waived her right to a preliminary hearing earlier this month, but remains held in lieu of $60,000. A bail reduction hearing in her case is set for July 6.

Pugh is accused of having sexual contact with the alleged victim from 2009 to 2013, when she was between the ages of 12 and 16. Howard is accused of having sexual contact with the girl in 2012, when she was 15, charging papers state.