A Columbus chess instructor accused of touching female students pleaded not guilty Monday to a new charge of gross sexual imposition that was filed after a second girl came forward and made allegations.
Freddy Leon Wilson, 61, of 2785 Castlewood Road, Columbus, was already facing similar charges in connection with alleged incidents involving a 4-year-old girl.
Prosecutors say Wilson was indicted by a county grand jury for a second time July 17 after another girl told authorities that Wilson had touched her inappropriately during a chess lesson.
The indictment says the second victim — identified as Mary Doe — was less than 13 years old at the time of the incident, which occurred between Feb. 19 and April 9.
Wilson was already facing two charges of gross sexual imposition in connection with alleged incidents involving a 4-year-old girl. According to his first indictment, those offenses occurred between March 31 and April 7.
The charges carry specifications that the alleged crimes occurred in a school zone. If he is convicted, the specifications could add time to any prison sentence.
Wilson on May 1 pleaded not guilty to the first two charges of gross sexual imposition, which are third-degree felonies. An arraignment for the new charge of gross sexual imposition has not yet been scheduled.
Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Everett Krueger set Wilson’s bond at $250,000 and stipulated that the whole amount be required, not the usual 10 percent. The bond also required that Wilson have no contact with children or minors and that he surrender his passport.
Krueger continued his bond at Monday’s arraignment.
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 on two occasions.
Wilson was arrested on April 23 at the Columbus airport when he returned from a chess tournament in Greece.
Wilson is still scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 10 in Krueger’s courtroom.
Court documents say Wilson is currently out of jail on bond while he awaits his trial.
