An Akron man who authorities allege is the orchestrator of three Craigslist killings was charged in a supplemental indictment alleging he engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity related to a prostitution ring.
Richard J. Beasley, 52, who is being held in the Summit County Jail without bond on charges of aggravated drug trafficking and 15 previous counts involving prostitution, is scheduled for his next appearance in Common Pleas Court on Jan. 26, court officials said.
Judge Tammy O’Brien is handling his case.
Beasley’s attorney, Rhonda Kotnick, said the latest charge, which was filed last week, does not involve new criminal allegations.
“It’s not a different offense. It’s just charged as a way to add more time,” Kotnick said, referring to additional prison time if Beasley were convicted of the supplemental charge.
April Wiesner, chief spokesperson for the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, said the supplemental charge could add a prison sentence of three to 11 years.
However, under the state’s new sentencing law enacted in September, it is possible the maximum sentence could be limited to 10 years, Wiesner said.
According to details in the supplemental indictment, at least eight women and one 17-year-old male were involved in the prostitution ring.
Authorities previously said that Beasley and a Stow-Munroe Falls High School junior, Brogan Rafferty, were the suspects in three fatal shootings and the assault of a fourth man who survived a gunshot wound.
All of the victims answered a Craigslist ad placed in October.
Two bodies were recovered in Noble County. A third was recovered in Akron near Rolling Acres Mall.
Kotnick said she has been in contact with the county prosecutor who will handle the Craigslist case, Jonathan Baumoel, and expects an indictment of Beasley in connection with the shootings by the end of this month.
Rafferty, 16, will be tried as an adult. He has been charged with aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder.
A pretrial hearing for Beasley had been scheduled for Jan. 19, but it was postponed until Jan. 26 in anticipation of a murder indictment against Beasley, Kotnick said.
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or at emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
