Court proceedings for the former St. Helena High School coach accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls in the 1990s were delayed for the second time Monday.

Herschel Sandler, 45, of Napa, delayed entering his plea to three counts of oral copulation with a minor and one count of lewd acts against a child.

A continuance of the arraignment and a bail hearing are scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Sandler previously requested that he be released on his own recognizance. He is currently being held at Napa County Jail on $250,000 bail.

Napa County Superior Court Judge Stephen Kroyer denied Sandler’s request last Thursday to be released on his own recognizance, calling him “a danger to the public based on what I’ve read in the complaint.”

Sandler’s arraignment last Thursday was delayed to give him time to find a lawyer. In court Monday, Sandler said he would not be able to afford a private attorney. Napa County Superior Court Judge Rodney Stone appointed Napa County Deputy Public Defender Joe Solga to represent him.

Sandler did not enter a plea Monday but is expected to do so later this week.

He is accused of having a sexual relationship with a girl under 16 from 1997-98 while he was a volleyball and wrestling coach at St. Helena High School. He is also charged with sexual assault of a second girl under 18 between 1996-99.

Sandler resigned from St. Helena High School in November 2007, the same month accusations against him surfaced.