An ex-convict charged with posing as a Cincinnati police officer and raping two women in January faces up to 10 years in prison.

        Paul A. Hearld, 40, of the 1000 block of Brighton Street in Newport, is accused of luring women into his car on Jan. 15 and Jan. 19 in Cincinnati and then assaulting and raping them.

Hearld

        In the Jan. 15 incident, Cincinnati police said a man flashed a “silvery badge” to a woman in the 700 block of Mehring Way in Queensgate and she entered his car sometime between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.

        He showed her a gun and handcuffs and then raped her, police said. The woman later gave Cincinnati police officers the man's license plate number, which led to Mr. Hearld's arrest Thursday by Covington officers.

        Mr. Hearld has a record of sexual offenses. In 1980, he was sentenced to 16 years for committing rape and sodomy in Campbell County. He threatened the president while in prison and, in 1990, served another two years for promoting contraband material, said Kentucky Department of Corrections officials.

        “We have a tremendous investigation here,” said Capt. Vince Demasi, commander of the Cincinnati criminal investigation section, at a Friday press conference. “We knew we had a pattern here. People don't just start off assaulting folks.”

        Mr. Hearld refused extradition Friday. He has another court appearance on Monday.

        Officers were working on the individual rape incidents when they realized that there were similarities. DNA samples indicated that one rapist had committed both crimes.

        On Thursday, Cincinnati police were following Mr. Hearld and were able to tip off Covington police that he was driving in the 2300 block of Warren Street. They stopped him for a traffic violation and consequently arrested him for the rapes.

        He did not resist arrest.

City fights for drug exclusion zone
Asbestos puts scare in workers
Eight 'graduates' joining city police
Priest from Uganda mourned
Tamer Mardi Gras in works
Antarctic visits recounted
Girl, 16, charged with vehicular homicide
'Souper Bowl' feeds hungry
Tristate A.M. Report
Villages unite to improve
Vine St. overseer begins city job
Whitewater land bought for parks
THOMPSON: Faith Matters
MCNUTT: Warren County
SAMPLES: Historical, spiritual nonfiction?
WELLS: The Cheney syndrome
Butler Co. sister has only hope
3-year-old DNA sample leads to arrest in rape
Family says goodbye to matriarch
Trials in Lebanon likely done
McConnell raises $3.5 million
Enron has Bunning backpedaling
Federal funds sought for sidewalks
Kentucky News Briefs
Ky. man charged in pair of rapes
Local 'stars' get air time in GED show
Lucas' challenger gets funds