A Columbus chess teacher who has denied touching two of his students inappropriately will apparently change his plea this morning in Delaware County Common Pleas Court, according to prosecutors.
Freddy Leon Wilson, 62, of 2785 Castlewood Road, Columbus, was scheduled to go on trial today but his attorney, Diane M. Menashe, has filed a court motion for a change-of-plea hearing. The hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. today, the time his trial was originally scheduled to begin.
Wilson has pleaded not guilty in the past to three counts of gross sexual imposition. Prosecutors say Wilson, a former chess instructor at the Prep Academy School’s Polaris campus, touched two students inappropriately during lessons.
Wilson was originally indicted by a grand jury on two counts of gross sexual imposition on April 29 for the charges relating to one student, but he was re-indicted on July 17 on a third gross sexual imposition charge after another student came forward to make similar allegations.
Court documents state that the first accuser, a resident of Delaware County, told prosecutors that during class, with other students around, her teacher put his hand in her lap. She said he touched her vaginal area inside her skirt on top of her tights and underwear.
The other accuser, from the Franklin County, alleged that Wilson asked the girl if he could touch her vaginal area and she said yes. This reportedly took place in a darkened classroom with no other students around, court documents state.
Wilson is out of jail on bond.
Last week Krueger denied a motion that would have delayed Wilson’s trial. Menashe said she was brought on the case in mid-June, weeks after Wilson was indicted on April 29, and noted that Wilson was re-indicted on July 17 on an additional charge of gross sexual imposition. Menashe said she has a “very full felony trial schedule” and has not had the time to prepare for the trial. Menashe said additional time to prepare a defense was needed and would be helpful in pursuing plea negotiations.
Krueger rejected the motion, stating Menashe had ample time to prepare and that her busy schedule would not allow a trial until 2016.
