This undated photo released by the Cleveland Police Department shows Ariel Castro. Three women who disappeared in Cleveland a decade ago were found safe Monday, May 8, 2013 and police arrested three brothers, including Castro, accused of holding the victims against their will.
Photo: Cleveland Police Department
The 329-count indictment issued Friday by a Cuyahoga County grand jury against the former school bus driver includes 139 counts of rape and 177 counts of kidnapping in connection with the abduction and horrifying decade-long imprisonment of Cleveland women Gina DeJesus, Michelle Knight, and Amanda Berry. However, Castro’s defense attorney, Jaye M. Schlachet, told Reuters, “The indictment is being reviewed and a ‘not guilty’ plea will be entered at the scheduled arraignment” set to take place next week. The 52-year-old is being held in jail on $8 million bond with more charges expected, as the current indictment only includes the period between August 2002, when Knight disappeared, to February 2007.
