Matt Mencarini | Lansing State Journal

Nate Chute, USA Today Network

CHARLOTTE - The first day of former MSU President Lou Anna Simon's preliminary hearing begins Tuesday morning in Eaton County Circuit Court.

Simon faces four charges, including two felonies, because investigators say she lied to police about when she knew about a sexual assault report against former MSU doctor Larry Nassar. The charges stem from the Michigan Attorney General's Office investigation of MSU related to Nassar.

Here's a look at what to expect from the hearing, which is scheduled for Tuesday and several days in April.

Testimony

Both the AG's Office and Simon's defense attorneys will have the opportunity to present evidence to District Court Judge Julie Reincke.

That's usually done in the form of testimony, and usually is only done by prosecutors.

The AG's Office will present its case to Reincke first, and Simon's attorneys will be able to cross examine any witnesses that are called. Prosecutors will have the same opportunity if Simon's attorneys call any witnesses.

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Witness lists have not been made public, but Michigan State Police Det. Sgt. William Arndt, who interviewed Simon in May and wrote up the affidavit filed in support of charges, is likely to testify. Michigan State Police Det. Lt. Joseph Cavanagh, who interviewed Simon along with Arndt, could also be called.

Paulette Granberry Russell, who in 2014 was head of MSU's Title IX office and a senior advisor to Simon, is likely to be called as a witness. According to the AG's Office, Granberry Russell met with Simon days after the 2014 sexual assault complaint against Nassar and they discussed the investigation.

Simon has maintained for more than two years that she didn't know about reports against Nassar until 2016. During the interview with Arndt and Cavanagh, she said that she was aware that in 2014 a sports medicine doctor was subject to a review, but didn't know the nature of the complaint.

New details could emerge

The affidavit filed in support of charges in November included new details about Simon's reported knowledge of the 2014 Title IX investigation. The document also provided new details about how prosecutors say other MSU employees — Granberry Russell and Kristine Moore, Title IX investigator — handled the complaint against Nassar.

Testimony during Simon's prelim could do the same thing as prosecutors begin to present aspects of their case against Simon.

View | 19 Photos

Through the years: MSU's Lou Anna Simon

The judge's ruling

The hearing will end with Reincke's ruling, which can be given in court or later in a written filing. Preliminary hearing rulings are usually given in court.

Reincke will rule on whether there's enough evidence for Simon to stand trial on each of the four charges she faces.

Reincke will rule on whether it's more likely than not that a crime occurred and Simon committed it, which is the probable cause standard. It was the same burden of proof required for Simon's arrest warrant, which Reincke signed in November.

It is not a finding of guilt and is a far lower burden of proof than the standard prosecutors must prove during a trial, which is beyond a reasonable doubt.

If Reincke rules that the Attorney General's Office has met its burden of proof, Simon's case will be bound over to Eaton County Circuit Court, where it could head to a trial.

If Reincke rules the burden has not been met, she'll dismiss those charges, be it one or all of them.