The trial of a former Oak Harbor and Freeland counselor accused of committing sex crimes against three former patients started Tuesday in Coupeville.

Glenn Jolley, 58, Clinton, is facing charges of second-degree rape, indecent liberties and attempted indecent liberties.

Jolley is accused of raping a 15-year-old patient in 1994. The girl reported the alleged rape, but the former Island County prosecutor decided that there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute.

Another former patient reported that Jolley fondled her during a counseling session last January. A third client claimed that Jolley tried to fondle her during a counseling session in 1999.

Island County Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock asked for an unusually large pool of 60 prospective jurors because of concerns about media coverage of the allegations.

In hearings last week, Island County Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock ruled that the county can’t present testimony from two other women who accused Jolley of making inappropriate sexual gestures.

Deputy Island County Prosecutor Mike Henegen argued that the testimony would show a pattern to Jolley’s behavior, but Hancock ruled that the other allegations have nothing to do with the alleged crimes and would prejudice the jury.

But in a victory for the prosecution, Hancock denied a defense motion to separate the charges, which would have allowed a separate trial on each charge.

Jolley has also had difficulties outside the legal system. Earlier this fall, the state Department of Health withdrew four charges of professional misconduct against him because he didn’t reapply for a social worker license. Last spring the agency suspended Jolley’s license.

The Department of Health alleged Jolley violated regulations involving sexual misconduct, unprofessional conduct, failure to provide client disclosure information, and record keeping and retention of records.

Dave Mascher, an administrative assistant with the Department of Health, said the department lost its jurisdiction over the complaints against Jolley after he did not reapply for certification in July.

While Jolley can’t work as a social worker without a license, Mascher says there’s no guarantee that Jolley will have to face the charges if he applies in the future. In addition, Mascher said, if Jolley applies for certification in another state, that state probably wouldn’t learn about the withdrawn charges.

The Department of Health took a correction action against Jolley in 1995 after three patients said he made sexual advances toward them.