Homeless Man Indicted in Rape of Young Boy

A homeless Kent man has been indicted on one count of rape of a juvenile and could be charged on several more counts.

A Portage County grand jury indicted Adam M. Mattice, 25, with a last known address of 115 W. School St., Thursday on one count of rape, a first-degree felony, and one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony.

Evidence presented to a grand jury by the Portage County Prosecutor's Office indicates Mattice engaged in sexual conduct with a male juvenile who was between 10 and 12 years old at the time of the act, according to court records. The acts occurred between March 2007 and March 2009. The victim is now 15.

Kent Police Lt. Paul Canfield said officers arrested Mattice after starting an investigation earlier this year into the abuse of several juveniles. Officers picked up Mattice on Feb. 23 just before 10 p.m. at 319 S. Water St.

Canfield said the investigation involved the sexual abuse of multiple juvenile victims over a period of several years.

"(Mattice) was known to the family of those juveniles, so he had opportunity to interact with the juveniles," Canfield said.

He was arraigned on the first two counts Friday morning, and Portage County Common Pleas Judge Laurie Pittman set a pretrial date on the charges for April 18 with a jury trial scheduled for April 24.

At the time of his arrest, Mattice also was charged for possession of a set of drug scales, fourth-degree misdemeanor, and possession marijuana, a minor misdemeanor.

Canfield said the investigation could develop more charges against Mattice.