SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield school van driver is facing child rape charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl while transporting her to after-school therapy sessions.

Alvin W. Wilson, 24, of Springfield, pleaded not guilty Friday in Springfield District Court to five counts of rape of a child by force.

Assistant District Attorney Kerry Koehler said the defendant forced the victim to preform sex acts in the van and at his grandmother's home in Springfield. He worked for a transportation company hired by the girl's charter school.

In late January, the girl was overheard telling another student about smoking marijuana and having sex with her van driver, the report said. When questioned, the girl denied doing anything improper, but later told her grandmother about sexual encounters with the driver, according to the arrest report.

During an interview with police, the girl described a scar running across Wilson's stomach, and picked out his grandmother's home while being driven through the neighborhood, the report said.

Koehler asked for $100,000 cash bail, citing the new charges and Wilson's court record, which includes an arrest on firearms charges and an open case involving an alleged assault and battery on a pregnant woman.

Defense lawyer Ivonne Vidal opposed the bail request, and said the charges are based on uncorroborated allegations made by a teenager with a history of depression and suicidal behavior.

Wilson never had physical contact and barely spoke to the girl, who always rode in the back of the van, Vidal said. Wilson's girlfriend often rode with him in the van during the time the alleged sex acts took place, and his relatives were always home at his grandmother's house, Vidal said.

The girl could have read Wilson's name on his driver's badge, and could have seen the scar from photos on Wilson's Facebook page, the lawyer said. In any case, her description of a horizontal scar was inaccurate.

"It is a vertical scar," Vidal said.

"No other evidence exists in this case," she added.

Wilson grew up in Springfield, earned a GED and is working to obtain a truck driver's license, Vidal said.

Despite several arrests, he has no convictions on his adult record. The pending case involves an alleged assault on his pregnant girlfriend, who denies that Wilson ever struck her and has repeatedly asked prosecutors to drop the charges, Vidal said.

Wilson has lost his job and cannot afford cash bail, said Vidal, who recommended placing him on home detention along with other restrictions.

Judge John Payne set bail at $25,000 and ordered Wilson to have no contact with the girl if he is released before trial.

Wilson, who repeatedly shook his head as the prosecutor summed up the allegations, looked back at his girlfriend as he left the courtroom.

"Love you," he said.

"Love you," she replied.