Kent Man Charged with Raping 4 Young Boys

A Kent man is in jail on a $1.5 million bond after pleading not guilty to 32 counts of rape and gross sexual imposition.

Ryant D. Cox, 28, of 322 Dodge St., was indicted by a Portage County grand jury on 16 counts each of rape, a first-degree felony, and gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, involving four male victims.

Cox pleaded not guilty Wednesday before Portage County Common Pleas Judge Laurie Pittman. The judge ordered him held on a $1.5 million bond or surety bond on the condition he have no contact with the victims.

The multiple charges accuse Cox of engaging in sexual conduct and having sexual contact with four male juvenile victims multiple times between March 2002 and July 2011.

One victim, who was born in July 1998, was between the ages of 3 and 13 at the time of the incidents, according to online court records. The second victim was between the ages of 6 and 13 at the time of the offenses. The third victim was between the ages of 5 and 13 at the time of the offenses. The fourth victim also was between the ages of 5 and 13 at the time of the offenses, according to court records.

served a warrant for Cox's arrest while he was being held at the Lorain Correctional Institution on March 2. The grand jury indicted him on all 32 counts of rape and gross sexual imposition March 1, and he is being held in the Portage County jail.

He requested a public defender Thursday, and a pre-trial in the case is set for April 18.