Man linked to rapes blames ‘ impulses’

CRIME & THE COURTS

CLEVELAND — Rape kits tested as part of a pilot project more than a decade ago helped lead to the first convictions of Nathan Ford, putting him in prison for more than a century for attacks on eight women.

The sexual predator is set for trial on Monday, accused of raping four more women from 1995 to 2000.

Ford, 49, believes he’s not responsible for any of the crimes because of “irresistible impulses” caused by a brain disease, according to court filings.

A grand jury on Tuesday indicted Ford on charges that he raped three additional women. It brings the total number of rapes linked to Ford by DNA found in rape kits to 15.

Ford and his attorney, Rufus Sims, have argued that a form of dementia damaged portions of Ford’s brain and hampered his ability to “control impulses, including sexual impulses.” Ford says he has no memory of the rapes he’s accused of committing. Sims, who didn’t return a call for comment, has argued he’s not competent to be tried for the crimes.

Cuyahoga County prosecutors say Ford’s current defense is a retread of arguments he made during his first court case, and he has spent a decade trying to convince appeals courts to accept as valid.

Contrary to his claims of memory loss and insanity, they say his behavior during the rapes was planned, organized and calculated.

Ford, a former Lake County probation officer, often beat his victims or threatened to shoot or strangle them, and in some cases wore gloves or made victims wash or bathe to conceal his crimes, according to motions filed by assistant county prosecutors Mary Weston and Daniel Van.

Multiple doctors and mental health professionals have assessed Ford over the years — though for his current case he has refused to cooperate with court-ordered assessments.