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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- On the fifteenth day of the trial for the former Horace Mann Middle School wrestling coach accused of sexually assaulting at least 22 boys, the defense finally began its case.

Joshua Carrier is accused of more than 200 criminal charges in which he allegedly sexually assaulted wrestlers during the 2010-2011 school year. He is also a former Colorado Springs Police officer who served as a school resource officer the year before the alleged assaults.

Joshua Carrier's father, Dr. Delos Carrier, took the stand in defense of his son Friday morning. He is a physician at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Delos answered questions from Josh's attorneys relating to Josh's background and personal life, going into details about Josh's volunteerism, interest in medicine and previous healthy relationships.

According to Delos, Josh was a volunteer at a drug, alcohol addition and sexual abuse prevention center in Texas called "Pathways" and won two awards.

"He had a heart for people," Delos said, adding Josh was even nicknamed "Tenderheart" as a kid.

In 2010, the year the accused sexual assaults against Josh began, Delos said he gave his son advice regarding infectious diseases.

Prosecutors cross-examined Delos, focusing much of the questioning on the fact that Josh wasn't a registered EMT.

At one point, prosecutors asked, "Would you agree with me that someone who truly cares for children would not look at child pornography?"

"I would not," Delos answered.

The judge said the trial is ahead of schedule and dismissed the jury Friday morning after Delos stepped down. Carriers lawyers said their next witness wasn't available until Monday morning.

The jury had an off-day Thursday but will continue to hear testimony from defense lawyers Monday. If Josh is convicted, he could face life in prison.