CASSOPOLIS — A new trial date has been set for former Southwestern Michigan College instructor George Field. Field had been set to go to trial last week on Jan. 7 in Cass County Circuit Court on charges for criminal sexual conduct, perjury and insurance fraud.

Field, 59, of Dowagiac, is charged with 17 felony counts including first-degree criminal sexual conduct, practicing psychology/counseling without a license, perjury and insurance fraud. The incidents occurred between September 2015 and early 2018, when he allegedly perjured himself during a court hearing.

The Cass County Prosecutor’s Office reported that Field is now set to go to trial April 28. A pretrial conference is set for April 17 in Allegan, as Allegan Circuit Judge Roberts Kengis is presiding over the case.

Cass Circuit Judge Mark Herman recused himself in 2018 after it was discovered that he had served on the board of directors of the counseling center where Field worked in addition to teaching at SMC.

Field’s trial has been delayed a number of times over the last two years, including in 2018 after Judge Herman recused himself and another judge had to be found. The most recent delay came when defense attorney James Miller asked for additional time to prepare. The trial had been delayed last summer due to health problems Miller had.

Field was arrested in fall 2017. The investigation of Field began earlier that summer after a former SMC student told college officials about Field’s alleged actions against her. They began investigating and recommended she contact the sheriff’s department. SMC completed their investigation in late September 2017 when they fired Field.

The alleged victim testified in April 2018 that Field was her professor at SMC starting in September 2015, and she started going to him for counseling in the same month. The counseling took place at the Family Center in Dowagiac and the sexual relations at Field’s home next door to the center.

Field is free on $50,000 cash or surety bond after being held on a higher bond for several months after his arrest in September 2017. He ended up being released on bond in July 2018.