NATCHEZ — The local businessman accused of nine counts of sexual battery has been bound over to the grand jury.

James Wesley Forde, 43, 801 Myrtle Ave., appeared before Judge Charlie Vess in Adams County Justice Court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday. During a preliminary hearing, the court determines if there is enough evidence to conclude a crime has been committed.

During the hearing, the alleged victim — a 16-year-old male — testified. Adams County Sheriff’s Office investigator Capt. Robert Brown also testified.

“The only evidence was the alleged victim’s testimony, and some conflicting testimony that the officer alluded to between Mr. Forde’s statements (to investigators) and (the victim’s) statements as to the nature of their relationship,” Vess said.

The judge said during the investigator’s testimony Brown also alluded to text messages that were reportedly exchanged between Forde and the victim.

“We felt that there was sufficient evidence to let the grand jury review the matter,” Vess said.

“As far as comment, the only thing I said was that I felt that there was some inappropriate behavior on behalf of the defendant, but that is ultimately for the grand jury to decide.”

When a suspect is bound over to the grand jury, the jury reviews the evidence against a defendant and determines if sufficient evidence exists to charge a defendant with a given crime. Charges can be upgraded, maintained or dropped by the grand jury.

The next Adams County grand jury will be empanelled July 23.

The victim’s mother filed a complaint first with the ACSO and then with the Natchez Police Department. According to the complaint filed at the NPD in March, the alleged incidents began in May 2010, when the victim was 14.

The assaults allegedly happened at the suspect’s business — the Forde Line, a men’s clothing store — and in his car, as well as at the Natchez Little Theatre, where he has performed in a number of shows in recent years.

Natchez Little Theatre released two statements following Forde’s arrest stating that the theater would aid investigators and would endeavor to make sure no such alleged incidents would happen there again.