NORTHAMPTON — In an unorthodox move Tuesday that surprised both his attorney and the judge, a former South Hadley man accused of molesting a young girl 15 years ago opted to represent himself in his second trial.

Following his 2014 indictment, Guy Bush Jr., 47, of Grand Island, New York, pleaded not guilty in Hampshire Superior Court to a charge of child rape and three counts of indecent assault. 

Bush is accused of molesting a 5-year-old girl in her bedroom in South Hadley on multiple occasions during the summer of 2001, which he vehemently denied when he testified at his trial in May. Bush was known to the girl, though they are not related.

Following about 12 hours of deliberation over two days, the jury returned  a guilty verdict on all counts. But Bush’s attorney, Jon Heyman, of Northampton, asked that the jurors be individually polled. Each juror was asked to affirm that the guilty verdict was, indeed, unanimous. When one juror said it was not, and the judge declared a mistrial.

In court Tuesday, Bush appeared with Heyman on the motion Bush filed to have his attorney dismissed.

Bush told Judge Richard Carey that he and Heyman disagreed on strategy about how to present certain information in the second trial, which is expected in October.

Heyman told the judge that there was now a “block” between him and Bush in light of their disagreements — “I don’t think that I could continue at this point,” he said.

Bush also gave Carey a multiple-page letter describing his reasons for wanting to fire his lawyer. The specific contents of the letter were not divulged, though the judge was visibly frustrated after reading it.

While  Carey approved Bush’s request to represent himself, the judge said the decision “is not because I believe one shred of the garbage in this letter, because I don’t.”

Carey told Bush, however, that it was clear his relationship with Heyman was irreparably damaged.

Carey also appointed David Mintz, of Northampton, as standby counsel. Both Heyman and Mintz declined comment outside of court.

During the 10-minute hearing, Carey repeatedly advised Bush to hire another lawyer.

“You are at a gross disadvantage representing yourself,” Carey said, adding that Bush would be held to the same standard as any attorney.

“I understand the seriousness of the charges and have given this quite a bit of thought and absolutely wish to represent myself,” Bush said.

Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com or 413-585-5234.