MARION COUNTY — A bench trial scheduled for Wednesday in Marion County Court will go forward; despite a motion by the defense counsel to withdraw Tuesday.

Jerad W. Peoples, 27, of Centralia, is scheduled to be tried Wednesday before Marion County Resident Judge Mark Stedelin, but in court Tuesday Peoples made an oral motion to continue the 2015 case based upon a lack of confidence in his attorney.

Arguments were heard and defense attorney Eddie Veltman made a motion to withdraw from the case, which Judge Stedelin denied.

Wednesday’s bench trial will go forward as planned and is expected to last two days. Peoples was originally charged with four Class X counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13.

However, earlier this month the defense waived the right to jury trial in the case and agreed to a bench trial. With the agreement of the alleged victim’s family, Counts I, II, and IV were nolle prossed, and only Count III will be tried in court Wednesday.

Through a nolle prosse the state elects to dismiss the charge with the understanding that it can proceed with prosecution of the offense at a later date without violating double jeopardy protections.

The bench trial on the remaining charge is scheduled to start at 8:30 Wednesday morning.