By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
The latest development in the case of a Crestline man accused of three counts of rape in the first degree was a competency hearing – not for the defendant, but the alleged victim.
Forty-four-year-old Nathan McIe is charged with raping a victim under the age of 13, as well as felony 5 disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile. His attorney, Adam Stone, had made a motion for a hearing to determine if the alleged victim was competent enough to testify at trial. McIe could be sentenced to prison for life without the possibility of parole if found guilty of the rape charges.
The hearing was held in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday in the privacy of Judge Sean Leuthold’s chambers with the judge conducting the examination.
Upon returning to the bench in the courtroom, Judge Leuthold briefly discussed the conversation he had with the alleged victim, and then ruled the child was competent to testify at trial.
Leuthold said in his ruling that he fully believed the alleged victim was capable of recollecting facts, able to communicate coherently and is understanding of the concept and importance of truthfulness when giving testimony.
Motions by the defense to sever the two cases against McIe, both indictments by the Crawford County Grand Jury, and a motion for expert fees are expected to be argued and ruled upon in a pre-trial hearing possibly as soon as next week.
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