Tad Cummins appeared in federal court on Monday where a judge set his trial for April 17, 2018. Several family members of the former Maury County teacher were also in the courtroom for the hearing. Cummins sparked a nationwide 39-day manhunt after he and his former student Elizabeth Thomas went missing together on March 13. The former high school health sciences teacher in Culleoka had been suspended a month before after a student reported seeing him kiss the then 15-year-old Thomas in a classroom. Cummins and the girl spent five weeks on the run before they were spotted in a remote area of California where they were staying in a cabin. Cummins faces a federal count of taking a minor across state lines for sex, as well as state kidnapping and sexual contact with a minor charges. He remains in custody. The judge also set a Dec. 4 deadline for all motions in the case.