By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A Shelby County grand jury heard evidence on Feb. 28 in a case brought against a longtime Alabaster teacher who has been charged with six counts of molesting children.

Shelby County Circuit Court Supervisor Jill Smitherman said her office recently received an order binding the cases against Daniel Acker Jr. over to the grand jury.

During a grand jury session, the grand jury reviews evidence in a case and determines if there is probable cause a crime has been committed. If the grand jury determines a crime has been committed, it issues an indictment against the defendant.

As of March 5, no notice of indictment had been filed in Acker’s case. Although Acker originally was scheduled to appear at the Shelby County Courthouse on March 5 for a preliminary hearing, Smitherman said the hearing was canceled after the case went to the grand jury.

As of March 5, Smitherman said no court dates had been set for Acker.