Trial for chess teacher rescheduled

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By Glenn Battishill

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Wilson
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The trial of a former Columbus chess teacher charged with gross sexual imposition has been rescheduled for October.

Freddy Leon Wilson, 61, of 2785 Castlewood Road, Columbus, was scheduled to begin trial in Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Everett Krueger’s court Tuesday but his attorney, Diane Menashe, filed a motion June 17 to continue the trial to a later date. Krueger last week rescheduled the trial for Oct. 6 at 8:30 a.m.

The motion for a new trial says Menashe has only recently been retained by Wilson and needs more time to prepare for the trial.

Court documents say Wilson is currently out of jail on bond while he awaits his trial.

Wilson on May 1 pleaded not guilty to two charges of gross sexual imposition, which are third-degree felonies. The charges also carry specifications that crimes happened in a school zone. If convicted, the specifications could add time to any prison sentence.

Krueger set Wilson’s bond at $250,000 and stipulated that the whole amount be required, not the typical 10 percent. The bond also required that Wilson have no contact with children or minors.

The two charges stem from statements made by a 4-year-old girl.

Kyle Rohrer, first county assistant prosecuting attorney, told Krueger that the original charges were based on statements taken from a 4-year-old student at Prep Academy Schools’ Polaris Campus, where Wilson taught chess. Rohrer said the girl told investigators that Wilson touched her clothed private areas twice between March 31 and April 7, 2015.

Wilson was arrested on April 23 at the Columbus airport when he returned from a chess tournament in Greece.

Since Wilson’s arrest, prosecutors said several other alleged victims have come forward.

No additional charges have been filed.

Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG

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