Rape suspect bound over to grand jury
WARREN -- The case of a 32-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting three teenage girls has been bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury.
James L. Cline Jr. of Forest Avenue Northwest waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday before municipal Judge Thomas Gysegem on one count of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition.
In exchange for the waiver, the prosecution dismissed four misdemeanor charges -- one count each of obstructing officials and driving under suspension and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon.
Cline is being held in the Trumbull County jail in lieu of a $500,000 surety bond.
The rape charge stems from a Sept. 8 attack on a 15-year-old girl on railroad tracks between Woodland and East Market Street, while she was walking from Warren G. Harding High School. He is also charged with assaulting a 13-year-old girl Sept. 13 and a 14-year-old girl Sept. 14. Both were walking to East Middle School at the time of the attacks.
Cline was arrested after his minivan was stopped by police at Bonnie Brae Avenue and Woodland shortly after the Sept. 14 attack.