COEUR d’ALENE — A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for a former Lake City High School teacher accused of molesting a child.

Jeffrey L. Kantola, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16 years, told First District Judge Rich Christensen on Friday that he agreed to the hearing request made by his attorney, Christopher Schwartz.

Christensen set Jan. 5 as the date for the hearing, although Kantola could change his mind before then.

The hearing would come five months after Kantola’s attorneys asked that the charges against their client be dismissed because the evidence did not warrant the accusations.

Kantola is accused of committing two counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16 stemming from allegations that, almost a year ago, in February and March, Kantola had sexual contact with a teenage girl.

He was indicted by a grand jury and pleaded not guilty to the two felonies in May.

In his August motion to dismiss the charges, defense attorney Chris Schwartz argued that the grand jury heard only skewed evidence offered up by police. The testimony, Schwartz said, “ ... Intentionally misled the grand jury and withheld crucial, exculpatory material.”

Kantola, a former chiropractor, had been placed on leave by the Coeur d’Alene School District in October 2016 after at least one parent learned that Kantola had been barred from being a chiropractor in Washington. His chiropractic license was revoked in 2004 after he admitted to having sexual relationships with a patient and an employee.

Kantola was issued an Idaho teaching license three years ago. When he was placed on leave, many school officials including teachers and administrators rallied around him. Kantola resigned and was paid a $30,000 severance.

Kantola appeared in person for Friday’s brief hearing. He and his attorney left the courtroom together.