The jury trial has been confirmed for a Bradner man accused of rape.
Michael Stultz, 33, appeared Monday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Court Molly Mack.
The state’s offer included pleas of guilty to two counts of gross sexual imposition and two counts of rape.
“We decline to accept that offer at this time,” said defense attorney Scott Coon.
The plea offer could have resulted in 27 years in prison. If found guilty at trial on all charges, he could face life in prison.
Stultz was indicted in January for three counts rape, all first-degree felonies, and gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony.
From March 22, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2022, Stultz allegedly had sexual contact three times with the same child who was 12 years old during the first alleged assault and was 14 years old at the time of the last alleged incident.
On Oct. 2 or Oct. 3, 2022, he alleged had sexual contact with a person who was 10 years old at the time of the offense.
This is the third plea offer he has rejected.
Coon said he had just received from the state a recorded interview with the child, but it was hard to here and he has requested notes that were taken by the investigator.
“Listening to the statement, some of the remarks from the child are hard to determine,” he said.
“The state is not aware of any report,” said Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Charles McDonald.
Coon said he planned to file a motion for the state to turn over any notes taken during the interview.
The state has until Jan. 12 to file a response.
The trial is scheduled to start Jan. 30.
Coon plans to file today; the state’s deadling to file a response is Jan. 12
