YOUNGSTOWN Grand jury indicts man on charge of raping girl, 2

YOUNGSTOWN -- A 27-year-old Salem man accused of sexually molesting a 2-year-old Boardman girl was indicted Thursday by a Mahoning County grand jury on a count of rape.
Joshua Dale Baird of Salem-Unity Road faces life in prison if he is convicted.
Assistant Prosecutor Deena Calabrese commended the Beaver Township police department and other county agencies for moving swiftly to arrest Baird.
She especially praised the work of Beaver Detective Lt. Richard Martin and juvenile Detective Daniel Valentine.
"They did a phenomenal investigation," Calabrese said. "This was a very thorough investigation in a very short amount of time."
Baird was arrested Wednesday and the case was directly presented to the grand jury Thursday.
He had been free on a $50,000 bond and awaiting trial on charges of rape and gross sexual imposition in Columbiana County, where he's accused of molesting a 4-year-old relative.
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