Kent State student McCoy Watkins, who was arrested on two counts of first-degree felony rape in April, will remain under house arrest until his trial in June, a common pleas court judge ruled Wednesday morning.

Watkins, who stands accused of raping two women at an off-campus home in November, appeared in the Portage County Common Pleas Court Wednesday morning in a motion to modify the terms of his bond. Watkins’ legal team appealed to modify the terms of his bond requiring him to remain under house arrest until his trial.

Watkins’ legal team brought forward an employment opportunity as the cause for this, claiming that Watkins had an opportunity for employment at a construction company in Canfield.

Judge Laurie Pitman denied this request, stating that she didn’t “feel safe” modifying Watkins’ bond before the trial.

Watkins’ criminal pretrial will begin June 15, and his criminal jury trial will begin June 21 at the Portage County Common Pleas Court in Ravenna.

Leah Shepard is Managing Editor. Contact her at [email protected].