ASHLAND — A Greenwich man charged with rape, kidnapping and possession of criminal tools pleaded not guilty to all charges on Thursday morning.
Michael Alexander Albrecht, 26, was arrested by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 14 on five felony counts.
Ashland County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Paul Lange set his bond at $500,000 on Tuesday during a hearing that Albrecht attended virtually from the Ashland County Jail.
Lange scheduled a jury trial on May 12 at 8:30 a.m., where court-appointed Attorney Zach Meranda will represent Albrecht.
The three rape offenses allegedly took place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1, 2025, in Ashland County, according to court records.
Each alleged incident involved the same adult female victim, Ashland County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Metcalf said during the bond hearing.
The kidnapping, which was for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity as alleged in the charge, took place in Ashland and/or Huron County, according to Lange’s reading of the charge.
Ashland County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Metcalf said at the bond hearing that Albrecht allegedly met with the victim — who is seven years younger than himself — “to hang out and watch movies,” after meeting online.
“She is very clear she does not want to have sexual intercourse,” Metcalf said at the bond hearing.
After the victim left, she immediately got a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) evaluation, which is a medical-forensic exam that, in this case, included a rape kit to test for DNA from the perpetrator, Metcalf said during the bond hearing.
“His DNA, it appears is on her. It appears in a manner that would only be there if they did engage in sexual conduct just as the victim alleges,” Metcalf said.
If convicted, Metcalf said Albrecht, who has no prior criminal history, would face 44 years in prison and would be required to register as a sex offender.
