Former Warren officer sentenced in rape case

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – The former Warren Police officer convicted of sexually assaulting four women while he was on duty will spend more than three decades behind bars.

Judge Cynthia Westcott Rice sentenced Michael Edwards, Jr to 34-39 years in prison. She also ruled she could not find Edwards guilty of the sexually violent predator specifications beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The court finds that these women were the citizens this defendant was obligated as an officer of the law to protect and yet he preyed on them instead. He targeted them for his own perverse pleasure,” Judge Westcott Rice said.

A jury convicted Edwards Monday of 15 of the 23 counts including rape, gross sexual imposition, sexual battery, extortion, theft in office and dereliction of duty.

Prosecutors had accused Edwards of sexually assaulting six women while he was on the job, he was found guilty of crimes against four of those women.

One of the four women Edwards was convicted of sexually assaulting addressed the court.

“The uniform that should symbolize safety and protection has now become a symbol of betrayal and fear,” she said. “I struggle with overwhelming feelings of fear, shame, and guilt and I have blamed myself.”

“I’m left with scars that will never fully heal and I don’t want what happened to us to ever happen to anyone else again at the hands of Michael Edwards.”

Edwards’ Attorney David Betras told the judge Edwards, under the advice of counsel, wouldn’t be speaking.

Betras told the court Edwards maintains his innocence but admits he committed theft in office and was derelict in his duty.

“Someone being sent to jail that is a rapist is in harm every day for their life and him being a police officer being sent to the penitentiary — he’s going to be in harm’s way every day he’s in prison,” said Betras.

Edwards will have to register as a Tier 3 sex offender for life.

“Judge Cindy Rice really laid down the law. She sent a clear message to Mike Edwards and anyone like him that this isn’t going to be tolerated,” said Assistant Prosecutor Gabe Wildman.

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