The Ohio molestation trial of retired Blacksburg Middle School teacher Jonathan Utin has been postponed until March.

Utin, 65, was arrested in Blacksburg on Sept. 18 and extradited to Ohio, where he was indicted on eight counts of rape of a child under 10 and eight counts of gross sexual imposition of a child under 10.

All the charges stem from incidents involving one victim that allegedly occurred from 1998 to 2002 in Ohio and Blacksburg. A trial was scheduled to begin Monday in Butler County, Ohio.

But Utin's attorney, Paris Ellis, requested a continuance. According to court records, Ellis had been unable to prepare for trial because he was suffering from pneumonia. A call to Ellis' office seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Assistant Butler County Prosecutor Greg Stephens announced this week that he might consider striking a plea agreement in the case, according to Melissa Spurlock of the prosecutor's office.

But for now Utin's trial is set to begin on March 26. Utin remains in the Butler County jail on a $250,000 bond, Spurlock said.

Utin taught science and math to Blacksburg middle schoolers from 1968 until his retirement in 2003.

He worked as a substitute teacher in Blacksburg schools from 2003 until his arrest last year.

According to court records, Utin confessed to molesting at least three victims -- the Ohio girl, a 3-year-old girl from Alabama and a sixth-grader, with whom he reportedly confessed to carrying on a long-term sexual relationship.

In 1995, a student-teacher from Virginia Tech who was working at Blacksburg Middle School officially complained about Utin's behavior toward students.

It's unclear if Blacksburg school officials, who have declined to comment on Utin, investigated the complaint.

Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Brad Finch said Wednesday that he will meet with Blacksburg police this week to discuss local charges against Utin.

"We're looking at several charges, not one or two," Finch said.

News of the confession and molestation charges devastated many in Blacksburg, where Utin was considered a pillar of the community.

In addition to his public school teaching, Utin organized various community activities for children, opened his home and gardens to public tours, taught Sunday school at Christ Episcopal Church and for decades managed the Shawnee Swim Club pool.