This week Ariel Castro will be arraigned in court and a judge will be assigned as his legal case moves forward. For Ohio Public Radio, WCPN's Nick Castele reports the 329-count indictment against Castro.
Prosecutors say Castro kidnapped Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight in separate incidents – Knight in August 2002, Berry in April 2003 and Dejesus in April 2004. They say he held the women captive in his home against their will until they were freed early last month.
Castro was indicted on 139 counts of rape, 177 counts of kidnapping, and numerous counts of gross sexual imposition, felonious assault and possession of criminal tools.
He was also indicted on two counts of aggravated murder for allegedly terminating the pregnancy of one of the women. Prosecutor Timothy McGinty is asking a committee to review whether those counts are eligible for the death penalty.
Craig Weintraub, one of Castro’s attorneys, wrote in an email that he was pleased McGinty didn’t, in his words, “rush to a decision” on whether to seek execution.
The indictment covers only the period between August 2002 and February 2007. McGinty says the investigation will continue, and that he’ll present more findings to the grand jury.
