High court refuses rape case; two new trials to proceed

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Two new trials now must be scheduled for a man whose conviction for raping two young boys was overturned by the 7th District Court of Appeals.

On Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court in Columbus refused to review the case of the defendant, Michael Kaufman, 42, of Berkshire Drive, thereby leaving intact the 2-1 appellate court decision that ordered two new and separate trials for Kaufman.

After a March 2008 jury trial, Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Kaufman to five consecutive life-prison terms plus 20 years.

The appellate court said joining the alleged offenses in one trial was prejudicial to Kaufman. The court ordered that the alleged offenses against each boy be tried separately.

The county prosecutor’s office unsuccessfully appealed to the state’s top court.

Police said the crimes occurred in Mahoning County between 1995 and 2003, and the victims were male relatives of Kaufman, who were between age 8 and 11.

Kaufman remains free on $300,000 bond pending further action in Judge Krichbaum’s court.