GALLIPOLIS — A Gallipolis man who was arrested and accused of raping a nine-year-old girl last month, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree felony rape.

Stephen L. Bush, 63, was arrested on November 15 after he was questioned for several hours by investigators concerning the alleged rape.

The arrest came following an investigation into the misconduct, alleged to have occurred between August 15 and September 19 of this year.

A deputy with the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of agents with the Crimes Against Children Unit of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) led the investigation.

According to a press release issued by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office following Bush’s initial arrest, the suspect was a “trusted friend” of the victim’s family.

Bush was indicted on December 13 — an indictment alleging that the defendant did engage in sexual conduct with the victim, only identified as “Jane Doe” whose date of birth is August 18, 2003.

During Monday’s arraignment hearing, Bush was charged with one count of rape, and his bond was set at $250,000, 10 percent with an additional $1,500, 10 percent bond.

Bush was furthered ordered to have no contact with the person or property of the victim.

A plea agreement in this case can be filed by January 25, and a jury trial has been scheduled for February 6.

According to the sheriff’s office website, Bush is currently being held in the Gallia County Jail.

A second Gallia County man charged after his alleged unlawful sexual conduct with a minor was recently before the court for a status conference.

David A. Young, 46, Rio Grande, was arraigned on October 22 and charged with 20 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in the common pleas court.

Young was arrested on Tuesday, October 16 by deputies and BCI agents following an investigation into his alleged behavior toward a minor between September 15, 2011, and September 25, 2012.

The indictment in this case describes the victim as a 15-year-old “Jane Doe” — an individual who had, reportedly, been one of Young’s students.

The journal entry filed after the recent status conference stated that discovery is ongoing in this case and, if the case is resolved, a negotiated plea must be filed with the clerk of courts by December 28, a previously set.

A jury trial has been scheduled in this case for January 9, 2013.

Young is also being held under a $250,000, 10 percent bond.