Randall Woodley Abduction Trial Begins After Many False Starts

The Randall Woodley abduction case has had several false starts but there will be no more.

Woodley's trial began today with jury selection and opening statements in Lake County Court of Common Pleas.

Woodley, 39, of Eastlake, is accused of intimidating two kids as they left the Mentor and forcing them to chauffer him to Cleveland.

He faces four counts of abduction and a charge each of carrying a concealed weapon and having a weapon under a disability. If convicted of all charges he could face up to 26 1/2 years in prison.

On Dec. 27, 2010, two boys – one 18, one 12 – were approached by a man they did not know as they left Walmart.

Woodley and verbally intimidated the boys, according to police. When the boys refused to drive him, he still entered their car without permission and demanded they drive him to the BP gas station at State Route 2 or Heisley Road.

Then, he forced the boys to drive them to the intersection of East 152nd Street and Pepper Avenue. He showed them a handgun and continued to threaten them during the drive, police said.

Woodley maintains his innocence.

, he said, "There are two sides to every story. I turned myself in to make things right. There's a lot of untruthfulness to this story."

Woodley's former lawyer, Gregg Gilson, previously claimed the boys were not forced to do anything against their will. Instead, he claimed the older boy willingly took Woodley to Cleveland so he could buy marijuana.

"The victims were in jeopardy with their parents because they didn't get the car home in time," Gilson said.

Woodley's trial but .

Instead of completing the trial, .

However, when it came time to be sentenced, Woodley asked if .

. Before his trial was scheduled to start, Woodley told the judge that Gilson had not gotten together any witnesses for him and had not watched security footage of him and the boys at Walmart.

"It worries me that I'm coming into a trial blind with no witnesses and not having seen the video," Woodley said at the time.

Collins was able to allay Woodley's concerns and the trial began. However, before opening statements finished, .

Collins and granted him a new trial with a new attorney, Aaron Baker