A man accused of chaining an 11-year-old boy to a porch has rejected a plea deal, paving the way for his trial to proceed.  

Dorian Harper, a 58-year-old man from North Carolina, was charged together with girlfriend with felony child abuse, false imprisonment and maiming, for chaining a boy to a porch. Harper was also accused of tying a dead chicken around the boy's neck as his punishment.

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Both Harper and his girlfriend Wanda Larson pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Defense lawyers said a plea deal had been exhaustively discussed, but Harper chose to continue the battle in court. 

"My client is exercising his constitutional rights for a jury trial and we'll see where it goes," said  Harper's attorney Randolph Lee.  

The trial is scheduled to begin next month and the jury selection has begun.

Harper and Larson were arrested after authorities found the boy chained to the porch in November 2013. Authorities believe Harper tied a dead chicken around the boy's neck to serve as his punishment for killing one of the chickens in his five-acre farm. 

Prosecutors said the boy is set to testify against Harper, adding that chances are also big for co-accused Larson to stand against Harper. 

Larson, who stood as the boy's legal guardian, was working as a supervisor for the Department of Social Services in North Carolina's Union County. But she was immediately fired from her job following her arrest.

Harper had also lost his job as an emergency room nurse at the Carolinas Medical Center-Union after being involved in the crime.

Should the jury find Harper and Larson guilty of the charges, they may each face several years jail time.  

Larson has four other adopted children aged seven to fourteen. They are now placed under state custody.

Meanwhile over a hundred animals housed in Harper's farm had been removed. 

TagsNorth Carolina, Child abuse, plea deal, violence against children