AKRON, Ohio – DNA from a rape that happened in Akron on Christmas Day 2018 has led to charges in connection with three other rapes in the city.

Prentice L. Smith, 43, of Anderson Avenue in Akron has been indicted on six counts of rape, a first-degree felony with sexually violent predator specifications, and four counts of kidnapping, according to Summit County Court of Common Pleas records.

Lt. Rick Edwards said Smith was identified by the newly formed team of cold-case detectives at the Akron Police Department investigating hundreds of sexual assaults, many of which are years old.

The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative detectives received DNA profile matches for Smith on four rape cases dating to Jan. 17, 2011, Edwards said.

In one of the cases, Smith is accused of threatening a woman with a handgun and ordering her to get into his car, Edwards said.

Investigators say Smith would drive victims to a secluded area and sexually assault them.

Smith was booked into the Summit County Jail and is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing on June 12. Magistrate Kandi S. O’Connor set Smith’s bond at $250,000 and ordered him to not have contact with any victims, court records show.

Detectives are asking any other potential victims to come forward.

Last October, Akron police received a $1-million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to fund a cold-case unit of four full-time police department employees.

Those employees began work in late February in collaboration with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, Summit County Rape Crisis Center and Victim Assistance Program of Summit County.

Anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault can contact the unit at 330-375-2228.

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