By AMANDA VERZELLO

The former LDS seminary principal accused of sexual conduct with a 16-year-old girl plead not guilty to 15 felony charges on Tuesday.

Michael Pratt, 37-year-old former principal of Lone Peak High School’s seminary program, faces 14 first-degree felony charges and one second-degree felony charge, including forcible sodomy, object rape, rape and forcible sex abuse.

Prosecutors say Pratt violated a “special position of trust” by carrying out the alleged relationship.

The alleged victim, now 17, gave her testimony in a preliminary hearing last month. She said her relationship with Pratt included multiple sexual encounters in various locations in Utah Valley, including nearby canyons and the seminary building’s roof.

Police say they have discovered hundreds of text messages between Pratt and the girl, several of which were sexually explicit.

Pratt was arrested on July 9 after someone reported him to the state Division of Child and Family Services. The LDS church fired Pratt after the allegations surfaced.

“(The church) condemns abuse of any kind and [expects] the highest moral and ethical standards of its seminary employees,” LDS representative Kim Farah said.