52-year-old Hollant “Max” Adrien was arrested in connection with stranger attacks against young men in the Springfield area. Adrien teaches French at Wittenberg University.

Springfield police say Adrien has been connected to two kidnapping and rape cases, as well as the attack on a 17-year-old earlier this month. Police said that in that case, the teen pushed away and grabbed the attacker’s bag and cell phone as he fled.

A subpoena of cellphone records identified Adrien as the suspect, and victims identified him in a photo lineup. Adrien pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

DAVE YOST: These are serious crimes – rape, kidnapping – no matter who you are, they’re serious. In this case the seriousness is aggravated by the fact that officer Spence was carrying a badge and a gun. He’s dishonored his uniform, he’s dishonored his badge. And we will prosecute this and hold him accountable.

Yost says a negotiated plea would only occur to avoid further victimizing the girls who both live in Delaware County and reportedly attend Westerville Central High School.

YOST: Generally speaking, we would only look at a negotiated plea to avoid the trauma to the victims of having to testify again. The problem with a rape trail is that the victim relives it all over again with the defendant sitting there at the counsel table starring at her.

A fire that occurred around 2 a.m. October 7th destroyed Edsil Spence’s home in Madison Township. Investigators labeled it arson. If Spence is convicted on all sexual misconduct and kidnapping charges, he could receive up to 30 years in prison. Sam Hendren, WOSU News.