CAMDEN — Former state Rep. James Thomas was handed over to a grand jury Tuesday after a preliminary hearing.

Fourth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Michael Jackson said the hearing was held in Wilcox County before District Judge Jo Celeste Pettway.

“He was bound over to the grand jury to decide his case. That’s about all I could say,” the district attorney said.

Thomas was arrested in mid-November by Wilcox Sheriff’s deputies and booked into jail after being charged with first-degree sexual abuse. He was released that same day after posting a $15,000 bail.

The charge stems from complaint by student at the high school where Thomas was principal. The student is 17 years old.

In addition to working as principal of the 669-student Wilcox Central High School in Camden, Thomas had served nearly 28 years as a member of the state House of Representatives from District 69, which includes Autauga, Dallas, Lowndes and Wilcox counties. He had served on the Ways and Means committee and the Banking and Insurance Committee of the House.