Retrial likely for Coonrod; new defense counsel to be appointed

Unless another agreement can be reached, the state of Ohio will retry Wesley Coonrod, though it has not been determined what charges he will face.

Coonrod was scheduled to be sentenced Friday after a jury found him guilty, early this week, of two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree. The jury was hung on five other charges, including two counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications, arson, and two counts of murder.

Judge Rocky Coss granted a motion by the defense to postpone sentencing until the other charges are adjudicated.

Coonrod appeared in a prison uniform and handcuffs when in court on Friday. Throughout the trial and pretrial proceedings, he had been permitted to appear in civilian clothing without restraints. 

Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey said that the state has not yet decided what charges they will re-try Coonrod. Coss ordered the state file their intent by Oct. 25. It is also possible for a plea agreement to be made between the state and the defense. 

The defense, represented by William Mooney and Jerry McHenry, asked that the court consider a more reasonable bond other than the $1 million that Coonrod is currently being held under. 

Mooney argued that everyone Coonrod knows and is related two are residents of Highland County and that it was all but impossible that he would not appear for trial. 

Coss said that he has known others who have had deep roots in the community to not show up for trial, and that since Coonrod still could be facing charges of murder, he continued bond. Coonrod was ordered to remain in the custody of the Highland County Sheriff's Office. He has been held at the Highland County Justice Center since March 7. 

The defense and the state met with Coss in a "chambers hearing" outside of public view, and when they returned to the main courtroom, Coss said that Coonrod had asked that new defense counsel be appointed.

Coss granted the request, but he is requiring that either Mooney or McHenry stay on, saying that with the work put in and with the history of the case, he felt it was important to have some continuity. 

If a new trial is held, it would begin after the holiday season, on Jan. 3, Coss said. 

A pretrial hearing will be held Nov. 5 at 1 p.m.