Child rape suspect gets new trial

SANDUSKY — An Ohio appeals court said a Sandusky pastor previously sentenced to life in prison for child rape must receive a new trial.Richard Mick, 56, who was sentenced in Erie County Common Pleas Court in 2016, had his conviction overturned Friday by the Sixth District Court of Appeals. A jury originally found Mick guilty of four felony charges of rape and gross sexual imposition.Mick, formerly a pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church, appealed his conviction after his trial was notably marked by his then-attorney K. Ronald Bailey refusing to participate in the trial.Bailey, in 2016, argued the trial should have been delayed, and Judge Roger Binette held him in contempt of court after Bailey told Binette he was "not participating" in the trial. Bailey eventually served a 30-day sentence in the Erie County jail for the contempt charge.Bailey did not respond to requests for comment Friday afternoon.Mick's appeal, filed by his new Cleveland-based attorney, Russell Bensing, alleged Bailey's refusal to participate in the trial violated his right to effective counsel, according to the appeal.The appeals court agreed with Mick, according to a court opinion written by Judge Thomas Osowik."Although Mick could have waived his constitutional right to counsel, the record shows he did not," Osowik said.There are not any court dates set following the overturned conviction Friday.Mick has another pending court case in Erie County Common Pleas Court, where he faces more counts of gross sexual imposition, according to court records. He has a pretrial in that case set for May 16.More Erie County Common Pleas court articlesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterRichard Mick is taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs after being found guilty of rape and gross sexual imposition on Friday, October 7, 2016. Mick will receive a new trial.