The plea agreement filed in the case of Gregory T. Kilgore has been withdrawn, and the case will proceed to trial early next year in Jackson Circuit Court in Brownstown.

The 52-year-old former Crothersville High School boys basketball head coach and athletic director is facing charges of child solicitation, a Level 5 felony, and attempted possession of child pornography, a Level 6 felony, related to a March investigation claiming he sent inappropriate messages to a 14-year-old female student.

Kilgore’s plea, previously negotiated by his defense and Jackson County Prosecutor Jeff Chalfant, called for him to plead guilty to a Level 6 felony count of attempted possession of child pornography and have the child solicitation charge dismissed.

The deal also called for Kilgore to receive a one-and-a-half-year suspended sentence. He would have been placed on supervised probation and required to register as a sex offender.

The deal further called for Kilgore to have no contact with the girl and pay a fee of between $500 and $5,000 to the sexual assault victim assistance fund.

Chalfant said the decision to continue to trial came after a recent talk with the victim’s family.

“I met with the victim’s family and discussed the case,” he said. “We agreed that the best course of action is to withdraw the plea agreement and proceed to trial.”

Kilgore’s attorney, Mark Dove, could not be reached for comment.

On June 6, an online petition was created by Katrina Christian, a former student at Crothersville High School and member of the school’s girls basketball team, who said she felt the plea was too favorable for Kilgore. Within two days, the petition reached 280 signatures, exceeding the goal of 250.

Chalfant said this petition did not factor into the decision.

“I have not read an online petition,” he said.

Kilgore’s trial is currently scheduled for Jan. 19, 2021, in Jackson Circuit Court. A pretrial conference is set for 9:15 a.m. July 23.