EL CAJON, Calif. -- A West Hills High School English teacher accused of having a physical relationship with a student pleaded not guilty Monday to six charges, including rape by a foreign object.

There are no allegations that John Christopher Holler, 41, engaged in sexual intercourse with the 17-year-old female student.

Holler was arrested at his San Diego home Nov. 9, following an investigation conducted that week by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Besides two counts of rape by a foreign object, Holler is charged with two counts each of attending an arranged illicit meeting with a minor and misdemeanor child molestation.

According to Deputy District Attorney John Philpott, the defendant and the girl had a "teacher-student relationship that became more as the summer went on, and in the last few months became physical and sexual."

While a criminal complaint lists two separate incidents, defense attorney Robert Boyce told Judge Patricia Cookson that any alleged physical activity involved just "one incident with one student."

Boyce told reporters he could not comment any further because he had just received the case.

Cookson allowed Holler to remain free on $175,000 bail as long as he had no contact with the victim, stayed away from minors unless an adult was present and did not contact students at the school in Santee.

Philpott said Holler, an apparently popular teacher who has been placed on leave, had been corresponding with students via e-mail.

Holler faces five years in prison if convicted. Cookson scheduled a preliminary hearing for Jan. 24.