One day after both sides contacted the Athens County Court of Common Pleas about reaching a plea agreement in an accused rapist’s case, the Gallipolis man will be heading to trial next year.
The trial for Levi D. Canterbury, 22, was scheduled to begin Tuesday, but Judge L. Alan Goldsberry said Canterbury’s lawyers and Assistant Athens County Prosecutor Robert Driscoll contacted him Monday and the trial was switched to a change of plea hearing.
At that change of plea hearing Tuesday morning, Goldsberry said he was informed that the two sides decided not to go through with the agreement and Canterbury will be going to trial on his two rape charges.
“Because of scheduling commitments and new information in the case, the case will not be able to go to trial this month,” Goldsberry said adding the trial is likely to begin in March 2013.
William Eachus, one of Canterbury’s lawyers, said there is new evidence, which he plans to enter into the case.
Canterbury allegedly picked up a female Ohio University student on Sept. 10, 2011, drove her to a lit parking lot, raped her and dropped her off near the College Gate, according to court documents.
He then called 9-1-1, identified himself and said he picked up an inebriated woman who was heavily bleeding from her backside or lower leg.
Canterbury has been held at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail on $200,000 bond since his arrest Oct. 11, 2011.
Driscoll said the prosecution withdrew all offers they previously made to Canterbury.
Goldsberry said he will response to the pending motions in Canterbury’s case, including a request for change of venue because of excessive pre-trial publicity.
Canterbury could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $40,000 if convicted of both rape charges at a trial, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
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