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WARREN -- A former Warren police officer accused of rape faces additional charges, according to a superseding indictment released Thursday.
Two new victims were named in the indictment that amends the original indictment against Michael Edwards Jr. filed March 8. The are identified listed in the indictment by the initials A.R. and L.H.
He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday before Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Cynthia Rice.
The new indictment adds three felonies, bringing the number of charges against Edwards to 19. The new charges are fourth-degree gross sexual imposition, fourth-degree menacing by stalking and fifth-degree attempted gross sexual imposition. All three carry a firearm specification.
Of the original 16 counts, there were 14 felony charges, including gross sexual imposition, extortion, rape, sexual battery, theft in office and dereliction of duty.
Edwards, 43, pleaded not guilty to those charges March 11 before Rice. Bond was at $750,000.
At that hearing, Rice denied a motion from Edwards' attorney, Dominic Vitantonio, who argued that bond for Edwards should be reduced or removed, suggesting his record showed no potential for him to be a danger to the community.
Also at that hearing, Gabe Wildman, Trumbull County assistant prosecutor, said the case is "rapidly" changing.
He estimated there could be up to five victims in the case. Only two had been listed in the indictment before the superseding indictment.
Court records show Vitantonio on March 15 requested a bill of particulars from the prosecutor's office, arguing the language in the indictment doesn't "sufficiently set forth the specific nature of the conduct" alleged against Edwards.
Meanwhile, Edwards' wife, Warren police officer Taylor Edwards, remains on paid administrative leave amid allegations she had been reaching out to other officers about confidential informants related to the case of her husband.
Warren Safety Service Director Eddie Colbert has confirmed there is an internal investigation involving Taylor Edwards following information disclosed in a motion by the prosecutor's office that brought alleged "inappropriate activity" on her part to light.