A COVID exposure at the Mercer County Courthouse forcing court to be canceled Monday and Tuesday. That means a final pre-trial conference for former Mercer County High School teacher Mark Artcher has been moved to next Monday. The 61-year-old Artcher was arrested in April of 2019 and faces a Class X felony of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two Class 2 felonies of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The charges allege three different victims under the age of 13. Artcher remains free on $100,000 bond. Class X felonies are punishable by a term of 6-to-30 years in prison while Class 2 felonies carry a prison term of 3-to-7 years upon conviction. If no agreement is reached next Monday, a jury trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 25.
