Trial No. 3 begins for former pastor

SANDUSKY — In a rare occurrence, a man will go to trial in Erie County this week for the third time on the same charges. Richard Mick, 59, who was a pastor at Sandusky's Lighthouse Baptist Church, is accused of sexually assaulting multiple children in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He has been indicted on multiple counts of rape and gross sexual imposition. Mick, a Castalia resident, has already gone to trial twice on those charges in Erie County's Court of Common Pleas. Erie County prosecutor Kevin Baxter said he doesn't remember a case being tried three times during his time as prosecutor. "While trying a case three times puts a big strain on the criminal justice system, it is especially stressful to the victims who have had to live through their painful ordeal over and over again," Baxter said. "But they have displayed great courage and resilience in the face of system failures." Background His first trial, in 2016, ended in a conviction after his then-attorney K. Ronald Bailey refused to participate in the trial, citing grievances with decisions of the trial judge, Roger Binette. Earlier this year, Bailey received a one-year law license suspension for his conduct in the trial. Mick received a life prison sentence, but in 2018 an appeals court overturned the conviction and granted him a new trial. Mick's second trial started in 2019 but it didn't make it to a jury's verdict. After several days of testimony, the defense announced to the trial judge, Tygh Tone, the prosecution didn't give them a piece of evidence — a police report — during pre-trial discovery. Tone declared a mistrial. Socially-distant jury selection Under a new visiting judge, John Haas, Mick's third trial started Monday with jury selection. The jury selection was at a banquet room in the Cedar Corner complex at Cleveland Road and Cedar Point Drive. Prospective jurors were seated in a manner to provide social distancing. The rest of the trial will take place in the Erie County Courthouse, a court employee said. The courthouse's three criminal court judges told the Register last month they are providing jurors with personal protection equipment, like masks and hand sanitizer, and are excusing jurors who express concerns for their health. The prosecution will be led by assistant prosecutor Paulette Lilly. Representing Mick is attorney Chris Maher, formerly of Sandusky's Bailey Legal Group. "We're looking forward to the full truth finally being revealed," Maher said. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the dates of the alleged sex offenses.