A former Warren City police officer who was fired after rape charges were filed against him was back in Trumbull County Court for his third arraignment.

This comes after another superseding indictment was filed against former officer Michael Edwards Jr. which revealed even more rape charges along with even more alleged victims bringing the total to six so far.

In addition, this indictment revealed that seven out of eight rape counts against Edwards now come with sexually violent predator specifications on top of firearm specifications.

During his arraignment, Edwards pled not guilty to all the new charges against him.

Court documents revealed the detail of these alleged encounters including forcefully touching alleged victims on their breasts, buttocks and genitalia and forcing them to have various forms of sexual intercourse with him.

Additionally, court documents allege that in the summer and fall of 2023, Edwards engaged in repeated contact with a victim including following her, asking her for sexually explicit photos and asking to touch her sexually.

According to court records, prosecutors filed a motion in opposition to a motion for severance filed by the defense on Wednesday. A hearing on these motions was scheduled for Thursday, May 9 at 11:00 a.m.

In that motion, Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman described Edwards as "the most prolific serial rapist in Trumbull County history."

"Indeed, it is difficult to find a more comparable case locally involving the same depravity and similar circumstances," Wildman wrote.

The case started when the first alleged victim came forward back in January of 2024, which prompted Edwards to be immediately fired from the police department once the allegations were brought to light and charges were filed.

Since then, multiple other alleged victims came forward with one accusing Edwards of threatening to expose her for being involved in prostitution and illegal drugs if she didn't submit to his sexual advances. Prosecutors say this encounter was captured on camera.

Court documents reveal that Edwards's alleged conduct has been going on since at least February of 2020 and occurred while he was on duty as a police officer in one case allegedly spanning 50 minutes of his shift where he was not performing the function of his duties.

The previously mentioned motion filed by Wildman states that all of these alleged incident occurred in a "remarkably similar fashion" with the same sexual motivation and manner.

"In each instance with every single victim, [Edwards] pulls up in a market Warren PD cruiser in full WPD regalia and uniform including a badge, firearm, taser, etc. He takes advantage of his position as an authority figure with regard to each of the victims to manipulate, force and/or coerce them into compliance," the motion reads.

The motion further reveals that each of the alleged victims struggle with drug and/or alcohol addiction and all but one of the victims had resorted to prostitution at some point.

"The victims will testify that the only reason they continued to engage with [Edwards] is because he was a WPD officer. Each of these women are among the most vulnerable members of society," the motion reads.

Edwards's wife, who was also employed by the Warren City Police Department at the time found herself in trouble as well when she was placed on paid leave after alleged jail phone calls between her and her husband discussing one of the alleged victims saying they hope she dies of an overdose or gets run over.

Additionally, Edwards's wife was accused of communicating with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office regarding her husband's case, but it's unclear what exactly what was discussed.

Taylor Edwards resigned from the police department in April.

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