Cleveland Heights Man Pleads Not Guilty to Rape Charges

The Cleveland Heights man charged with raping a woman while she was moving into her apartment on Hampshire Road pleaded not guilty this morning during his arraignment. 

A grand jury . 

Scott, 26, of 932 Whitby Road was arrested on Feb. 19. Prosecutors said he raped a 24-year-old woman while she was moving into a building in Cleveland Heights, said Ryan Miday, spokesperson for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason’s Office.

The woman propped her door open while she was bringing her belongings into her apartment, Miday said. She saw Scott hanging out by the building, but figured he was a resident.

As she was working, Scott slipped into the apartment and hid in a bedroom, Miday said. When she was finished, he ran out, threatened her with a knife and sexually assaulted her. He then stole her cell phone and ID badge.

Neighbors heard her scream and knocked on her door. When no one answered, they called Cleveland Heights Police.

When they arrived, Scott ran out the back door, but police obtained a description and arrested him within minutes. A knife, the woman's ID and cell phone were found nearby, Miday said. He is being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

He was indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, felonious assault and aggravated robbery, Miday said. He has no prior felony convictions in Cuyahoga County, according to court records. 

A pretrial has not been set yet, and Judge Stuart Friedman is assigned to the case.