A former Warren Police Officer, described by a prosecutor as the “most prolific serial rapist in Trumbull County history”, was back in court late Thursday morning.

Judge Cynthia Rice heard motions filed by 43-year-old Michael Edwards Jr., which included requests for separate trials, the release of grant jury proceeding transcripts to his attorney and modification of his $750,000 bond.  Edwards has been in the Trumbull County Jail since his arrest in late January.

Edwards's attorney explained that this all started with a complaint from one alleged victim, followed by more slowly coming to light in two superseding indictments.

The defense argued referencing previous cases in Ohio where separate trials were allowed for people charged with multiple acts of sexual assault against a number victims due to the amount of victims.

In the motion, the defense cited a statement from one of the alleged victims stating that the acts were consensual "eight to nine times" and slammed the prosecution for accusing the defense of "cherry picking" evidence in the counter motion.

The defense argued that if this alleged victim was the only one in this case and she testified multiple times that the acts were consensual, Edwards would likely not be convicted.

"How does a prosecutor indict on that 'consent, consent, consent' and return an indictment for force or threat of force? Do you think we can get a conviction in a case like that all by itself? I say absolutely 100% not. But I say if you package it up with five other victims, you most likely will get a conviction because ... human nature is to say 'if you did it one time, you did it another time and we're going to find you guilty'," the defense said.

The defense also slammed the prosecution for the "most prolific serial rapist line" in their counter motion and accused the prosecution of trying to convince the court that if the accusations from one of the victims were true, all of them must be when that may not be the case.

In regards to Edwards's bond, the defense argued that Edwards is not a danger to the public because these are merely allegations, he has no prior record and that he has no access to any of the victims and he could still be placed on house arrest.

Assistant Trumbull County Prosecutor Gabe Wildman is opposing the motions.

Wildman responded to the statement from the alleged victim stating that the acts were consensual by stating that this same alleged victim made other statements indicating that it wasn't consensual such as her being scared of Edwards, Edwards driving by her house and shining a spotlight on her and even arresting her at some point.

"Just because she uses the word consent, and she does multiple times, that the facts and circumstances dictate that he used the force in his position, inherent force and actual force to complete the acts with [alleged victim]," Wildman said.

Wildman also defended the "most prolific serial rapist" comment by stating that this comment was based off of a case very similar to this one involving another police officer in Oklahoma who was convicted of raping multiple women.

In regards to bond, Wildman argued that Edwards should be held without bond rather than the $750,000 bond he's currently held at stating that the weight of the evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the prosecution.

Wildman stated that all six victims are afraid of Edwards and argued that he is a serial rapist.

Judge Cynthia Rice pointed out that these alleged crimes only occurred when Edwards was in uniform and on duty as a police officer.

Wildman responded that there was no way to know for sure if Edwards would do anything more now that he's no longer a police officer but "wouldn't put anything past him." 

Wildman went on to discuss Edwards's character and mental condition.

"I would argue that [Edwards] is an individual of poor character and he specifically talks about his mental condition after a shooting he was involved in that he struggles with his mental health at times," Wildman said.

Judge Rice ruled to continue Edwards's bond at $750,000 and ordered for him to be placed on house arrest should he be bonded out of jail. Rice will continue to review the other two motions before making a ruling.

The latest of three indictments handed up against Edwards alleges that he has victimized six women.

According to court documents, Edwards forcefully touched alleged victims on their breasts, buttocks, and genitalia and forced them to have various forms of sexual intercourse with him.

Edwards also allegedly engaged in repeated contact with a victim including following her, asking her for sexually explicit photos, and asking to touch her sexually.

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 his duties.

Additionally, these documents noted a trend in Edwards's alleged crimes stating that all of the alleged victims struggled with drug/alcohol addiction and all but one of them resorted to prostitution at some point.

During Thursday's hearing, Wildman went on to state that many of these victims had been arrested by Edwards at some point.

"First he gains access, then he gains compliance using that show of force and authority," Wildman said.

One of these alleged victims accused Edwards of threatening to expose her being involved with prostitution and illegal drugs if she did not submit to his sexual advances.

The former officer is scheduled to go on trial late next month on five counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of extortion, eight counts rape, three counts of sexual battery with sexually violent predator specifications, two counts of theft in office, two counts of dereliction of duty, one count menacing by stalking, and one count attempted gross sexual imposition.   Because prosecutors say a firearm was used during several of the alleged crimes, Edwards could face a harsher sentence if convicted.

Edwards has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Wildman said more alleged victims may come forward. If they do, the prosecutors office has decided to not add them to this trial.