Accused ‘prolific serial rapist’ and former cop back in court to argue pending motions

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – The man who prosecutors have said may be “the most prolific serial rapist in Trumbull County history” was back in court Thursday morning.

Former Warren police officer Michael Edwards Jr. was back in court where his attorney and Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman argued the three pending motions in his case.

Edwards is facing 24 counts, accused of sexually assaulting six women while he was on the job. The motions argued were all filed by Edwards’ attorney Dominic Vitantonio and centered around Edwards’ bond, disclosure of grand jury proceedings, and a request to have separate trials for each of the alleged victims.

A majority of the time in the roughly 45-minute hearing was spent arguing whether or not to separate the cases.

“We have to sever some of these things because otherwise, we’re not going to have fairness,” said Vitantonio.

Wildman disagreed saying, “It’s the defendant’s burden to demonstrate actual prejudice. He can’t do that. He’s failed to do that and that’s because there is no actual prejudice from keeping these charges joined.”

“The jury deserves to know all of the illegal conduct that Mike Edwards committed in this case. Joinder is the rule, not the exception,” said Wildman.

“I argue that he is a serial rapist. I don’t say that to be mean to him and call him names. I think the facts bear that out. He has raped multiple women. That is the state’s position. I think he’s a danger,” Wilman stated.

Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice continued Edwards’ bond at $750,000 with a condition of electronically monitored house arrest at Edwards’ expense should he post it and took the other two motions under advisement.

Edwards is due back in court next month for another pretrial hearing in Warren.

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