AKRON, Ohio — A Macedonia man accused of raping multiple young girls over a period of several years has agreed to plead guilty one day before his case was scheduled to go to trial.
According to the Summit County Prosecutor's Office, 72-year-old William Lupica admitted to two counts of rape as well as a combined total of 11 lesser charges of gross sexual imposition, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material. While eight other charges (including one rape charge) were dropped, he still faces up to life behind bars.
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Police first arrested Lupica in May of last year after he was alleged to have sexually assaulted a girl who was just 3 years old at the time. Per a complaint filed in Stow Municipal Court, the incident occurred at his Apache Run home in either 2018 or 2019.
Less than two weeks later, a Summit County grand jury issued a 21-count indictment against Lupica, charging him of raping girls under the age of 13 on at least two occasions between 2017 and 2021. In addition, prosecutors said he filmed the girls performing a number of sexual acts and kept the photos and videos for his own benefit.
Following Lupica's indictment, Judge Joy Malek Oldfield ordered him held without bond in the Summit County Jail, where he has remained ever since. She is scheduled to issue his final prison sentence on Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.