Separate trials ordered in rape cases

The 7th District Court of Appeals has ordered two new and separate trials for a man who was sentenced to five consecutive life prison terms plus 20 years after being convicted by a jury of raping two young boys.

In a 2-1 decision released Wednesday, appeals court Judges Mary DeGenaro and Gene Donofrio sent the case of Michael Kaufman, 42, of Berkshire Drive, back to the trial judge, R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, for the alleged offenses against each boy to be tried separately.

The crimes allegedly occurred in Mahoning County between 1995 and 2003, and the alleged victims were both male relatives of Kaufman, who were between the ages of 8 and 11 when the alleged offenses occurred.

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com