A Proctorville man accused of raping a nine-year-old girl was arraigned Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Robert E. Hoke, 39, of 403 East Front St., pleaded not guilty to this charge and to one count of failure to provide change of address to authorities as he is required to do because he is a registered sex offender.

“Mr. Hope confessed to his involvement with the young girl,” Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., said. “He is a convicted sexual predator. I ask that bond be substantial and the state is suggesting a half million dollars.”

Attorney Derick Fisher, who was standing in for Hoke’s attorney, Robert Gleichauf, asked that the bond be “fair and reasonable.”

Judge Charles Cooper set bond at $350,000 and scheduled an April 14 pretrial conference.

If he is convicted of the rape charge, Hoke faces a sentence of life in prison because of the age of the victim. Conviction on the other charge carries a maximum 12 months in prison.

Also Wednesday, Joshua Wiseman, 25, of 478 Private Drive 13, State Route 93, Pedro, was arraigned on one count of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.

He pleaded not guilty through attorney Derick Fisher, who was standing in for Wiseman’s attorney, Warren Morford. Cooper set bond at $75,000 cash plus electronically monitored home confinement.

Cooper further ordered Wiseman to stay away from his victims. He must return to court April 14 for a pretrial conference.

John DeBelle, 25, of 607 N. Fifth St., Ironton, was arraigned on one count of burglary and one count of resisting arrest. He pleaded not guilty through attorney Derick Fisher.

Cooper set bond at $25,000 cash or $50,000 real estate and scheduled an April 14 pretrial conference.

In another matter, Casey L. Adkins, 21, of 6 Township Road 1294, Proctorville, was arraigned on three counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Marty Stillpass. Judge D. Scott Bowling set bond a $50,000 own recognizance (OR) bond with electronically monitored home confinement. Adkins must return to court next week for a pretrial conference.

Brent A. Patrick, 21, of 622 Lane St., Coal Grove, was arraigned on one count of burglary. He pleaded not guilty through attorney Derick Fisher, who was standing in for Patrick’s attorney, Mike Gleichauf. Cooper set bond at $50,000 cash or $100,000 property with electronically monitored home confinement.

Cooper further ordered Patrick to stay away from his victim and return to court April 14 for a pretrial conference.

Mark Patrick, 44, of 2305 S. 12th St., Ironton, was arraigned on charges of aggravated vehicular assault, endangering children, operating a vehicle without a license, and driving while intoxicated.

He pleaded not guilty. Cooper set bond at $25,000 cash.

William C. Webb II, 24, of 2315 County Road 30, Kitts Hill, was arraigned on charges of breaking and entering, burglary, theft and vandalism. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Luke Styer.

Cooper allowed bond set in a lower court to continue and ordered Webb to return to court this week for a pretrial conference.

Webb’s alleged cohort, William Holton, 26, of Jackson, was arraigned on charges of burglary and breaking and entering.

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, David Reid Dillon. Cooper set bond at $50,000 cash plus electronically monitored home confinement.

Like Webb, Holton will be back in court this week for a pretrial conference.

Tyrone Black, 39, of Greenup, Ky., was arraigned on a two-count drug indictment.

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Mike Gleichauf. Because Black was also arrested in a probation violation, Bowling did not set bond.

The judge scheduled an April 14 pretrial conference.

Glenna Boothe, 27, of 651 Township Road 2745, Ironton, was arraigned on one count of receiving stolen property. Bowling set bond at $10,000 cash and added a $20,000 OR bond. Boothe must return to court April 14 for a pretrial conference.

Corena Walters, 54, of 245 Township Road 1135, Proctorville, was arraigned on two counts of complicity to aggravated trafficking in drugs.

She pleaded not guilty. Bowling set a $25,000 OR bond with electronically monitored home confinement. She must return to court this week for a pretrial conference.

Donald R. Lewis Jr., 57, of 615 S. 10th St., Ironton, was arraigned one charges of driving while intoxicated and intimidation of a peace officer.

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Mike Gleichauf, who asked for an OR bond, given Lewis’ myriad problems.

“My client is not well,” Gleichauf said. “He has bone cancer, cirrhosis. He has a lot of prescriptions and is under 24-hour care. He is not supposed to take eight steps.”

Bowling set bond at $100,000 cash and added a $50,000 OR bond to it. Lewis must return to court this week for a pretrial conference.