MARSHALL — A Balaton man charged with criminal sexual conduct appeared in Lyon County District Court on Tuesday, court records said. A district court judge set deadlines for attorneys to file written arguments on issues discussed at the hearing.

Ethan Lennen Nelson, 35, was charged with fourth degree criminal sexual conduct, third degree criminal sexual conduct, and two counts of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct. A criminal complaint alleges that Nelson had sexual contact with four victims when he was a church youth group leader, during a period of time from around 2014 to 2018.

On Sept. 10, Nelson’s defense attorney filed a motion to dismiss the complaint against Nelson on the grounds that there was not probable cause to believe Nelson committed the offenses in the charges, court records said. The motion also challenged the state’s intent to seek aggravated sentencing for Nelson, and asked to have the four charges against Nelson tried separately. The motion claimed that the four counts were unrelated to each other.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Lyon County District Court Judge Michelle Dietrich heard from both the prosecution and the defense in the case, court records said. She also set deadlines for attorneys to file written arguments on the issues from the hearing. The defense had until Oct. 7 to submit its written arguments, and the prosecution had until Oct. 21. Then, the defense had until Oct. 28 to respond.