A 39-year-old Coeur d’Alene man who was arrested for allegedly trying to rape a 12-year-old girl in his care will have a preliminary hearing after posting bail this week to secure his release from jail.

Benjamin E. Greene, who was arrested Friday on a charge of lewd conduct with a child, was released from jail Monday after posting a $75,000 bail bond. He was ordered not to have contact with the 12-year-old or her family.

Police said Greene was babysitting at a Wolf Lodge residence last week when he allegedly tried having sex with one of the children in his care.

The 12-year-old’s parents were on vacation and had entrusted the child to Greene.

The girl told police Greene had been drinking beer and margarita mix one day last week and had taken the child and her siblings to dinner. When they returned home, he kept drinking and allegedly forced himself onto the 12-year-old, attempting to strip away her clothing while fondling her. The girl struggled to get free. Once she escaped, she locked herself in a room and called her parents.

When authorities contacted Greene, he repeated much of the girl’s story but denied attempting to have sex with the child. He said he had drank too much and blacked out. In addition, Greene told authorities, he was on medication that did not mix well with alcohol.

Coeur d’Alene Magistrate Judge Mayli Walsh, at Greene’s first court appearance this week, said Greene’s behavior was offset by his lack of a criminal history. Instead of accepting the prosecutor’s bond recommendation of $50,000, Walsh increased it by half.

The judge scheduled a status conference for Tuesday. A probable-cause hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Coeur d’Alene.

Lewd conduct can carry a sentence of up to life in prison.