In a criminal action, the defendant has pled not guilty, and the court is soliciting evidence only for the purpose and to the extent necessary to decide that likelihood that a criminal act has been committed, and that the defendant is the one who committed it. If the court decides in the affirmative, a formal charge or indictment is laid, finding that a crime was committed and the defendant is likely the perpetrator. The defendant is then bound over for trial on the merits of the charge, and a trial date is set.