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The man accused of kidnapping and detaining three Ohio women for a decade has pleaded not guilty to hundreds of criminal charges.
Ariel Castro, 53, who is accused of abducting the women and holding them captive until they escaped from his house on May 6 along with a six-year-old girl he fathered with one of the women, faces 977 charges.
During a brief appearance in Cuyahoga CountyCommon Pleas Court, a lawyer for Castro entered the not guilty pleas and the judge kept in place an $US8 million bond and an order that Castro have no contact with the three women and the child.
Law enforcement officials have said the women,Gina DeJesus, 23, Michelle Knight, 32, and Amanda Berry, 27, were kept bound in chains or rope for periods of time and they endured starvation, beatings and repeated sexual assaults.
The most serious of the charges against Castro, two counts of aggravated murder under a foetal homicide law over allegations he forced Knight to miscarry, could potentially carry a death sentence if prosecutors choose to pursue it.
Joe Frolik, a spokesman for the prosecutor, told reporters a committee that considers death penalty charges is still deliberating and prosecutors have reserved the right to bring a third indictment that includes a death penalty charge.
According to the indictment, Knight was pregnant at least three times from September 2002 to December 2003.
Castro's aggravated murder charge stems from allegations that he forced her to miscarry in a fourth pregnancy from 2006 to 2007.
Defence attorneys seek agreement to avoid trial
Castro has not sought to delay the start of his trial, which is scheduled for August 5, but defence attorneys are seeking a plea agreement in the case.
"We are preparing for that trial however with the goal in mind to try to resolve this for the fairness of the women as well as the community so everyone can put this behind them," Castro's attorney Craig Weintraubtold reporters.
"Either we are going to have a plea or we are going to have a trial on August 5."
Castro is charged with kidnapping the three women from 2002 to 2004 and brutalising them over the next 10 years.
He is also charged with kidnapping the six-year-old girl and three counts of endangering her.
Castro's lawyers waived a reading of the full indictment, which also includes 512 counts of kidnapping, 446 counts of rape, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, six counts of felony assault, and one count of possessing tools such as a Ruger handgun used to aid in the crimes.
Judge Pamela Barker, who summarised the charges, told Castro to raise his head and open his eyes during the proceedings.
DNA evidence has confirmed that Castro is the father of the girl, who was born to Berry.
At a court appearance in early July, Castro asked to be allowed jail visits from his daughter.
A judge rejected the request immediately, saying it was "not appropriate".
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