The second trial for Charles Hiser, 37, now is scheduled to begin Dec. 12 in Miami County Common Pleas Court.
Hiser has pleaded not guilty to eight felony indictments of rape for alleged sexual contact and sexual conduct with a person under age 10 and then under age 13 between February 2012 and late 2016 in Piqua and Troy.
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Jurors heard testimony in the case in October before a mistrial was declared after jurors were questioned about seeing media reports on the case. The reports mentioned Hiser's prior conviction and registered sex offender status, information prosecutors and defense lawyers were not allowed to mention during the trial. After each juror was questioned individually, trial participants said at least said they had read or heard about those reports.
The mistrial was declared by visiting Judge William Wolff Jr. Hiser remains jailed in lieu of $550,000 bail.
Court records show Hiser, then a Piqua resident, was convicted of misdemeanor sexual imposition in Municipal Court in 2008. Hiser is listed as a Tier I sex offender. The designation requires the person to register their address with the sheriff in the county where they reside annually for 15 years.
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