The defense for a man accused of holding three women captive in his Cleveland home for about a decade hints that a trial can be avoided with a plea if he escapes the death penalty. Defense attorney Craig Weintraub addressed the death penalty issue today after 52-year-old Ariel Castro pleaded not guilty to hundreds of charges, including rape and kidnapping. Weintraub says the defense is working to avoid an "unnecessary trial" involving the death penalty. Current charges involving an alleged forced miscarriage don't include death penalty specifications, but the prosecutor says that's under review. The prosecutor's office says it's reviewing the defense comments. A statement on the behalf of the three women calls today's arraignment "not easy" and adds the women are hoping for a just and prompt resolution.
Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.