Gates Enters Guilty Plea

A Zanesville man changes his plea to guilty to several charges including child endangerment.

The trial of 46-year-old Robert James Gates was to begin Tuesday in Muskingum Common Pleas Court. However, Gates avoided trial by entering a guilty plea to endangering children with serious physical harm, an amended count of pandering obscenity involving a minor and two counts of gross sexual imposition. A second count of pandering obscenity involving a minor will be dropped at sentencing.

Judge Kelly Cottrill ordered a pre-sentence investigation in the case. Gates bond was continued at $250,000.

In July, the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office said the offense date took place between January 11 and February 6, 2011.

Before Gates plea deal he faced a charge of rape of a victim under the age of ten which carried a life sentence.