6 days ago
Prosecutors seek to revoke bond of rape suspect for allegedly contacting victim
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Prosecutors Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court asked a judge to revoke the bond of a man charged with three counts of rape because they say he contacted a victim in the case.
Assistant Prosecutor Daniel Yozwiak said Matthew Nicholson, 46, of Columbiana, sent a Facebook message May 29 to a victim in the case despite a condition of his bond stating that he have no contact with any victims.
Besides the three rape counts Nicholson is facing, which are all first-degree felonies, he also faces a second-degree felony charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony count of sexual battery and a first-degree misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property.
Trial is set for Nov. 10 before Judge Maureen Sweeney.
Nicholson's bond was originally set at $500,000 when he was arraigned Jan. 22 in common pleas court, but it was reduced Feb. 7 to $250,000, which he was able to post Feb. 11.
Details of the charges have not yet been released, but the charges were filed after an investigation by the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office.
A grand jury indicted Nicholson Jan. 17 via direct presentment, the same day he was arrested following a chase in Beaver Township.
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