BY STACI WILSON

The trial in a rape case is set to begin Thursday, Jan. 8, in the Susquehanna County Court of Common Pleas.

Michael Johnson, 49, of Kingsley is accused of raping a 17-year-old female over a decade ago.

The Susquehanna County Independent does not identify the victims of alleged sexual assault.

He also faces charges of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse; aggravated indecent assault; and corruption of minors.

The charges were first lodged in June 2013 and were held over for trial following a preliminary hearing was Clifford District Court.

Jury selection for the case took place on Monday. Montgomery County Senior Judge S. Gerald Corso is specially presiding over the case.

Corso told prospective jurors the case would likely take two days.

Susquehanna County District Attorney Jason Legg told the jury panel that Johnson’s accuser, who will be presented as a witness for the prosecution, also has a 2012 conviction of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 13.

The allegations lodged by the victim against Johnson came after her conviction, the district attorney told the jury pool.