As the trial approaches for accused captor Ariel Castro, Senior Associate Dean Daniel Filler discussed the prosecutors’ leveling of new charges of kidnapping, rape and assault with the Christian Science Monitor on July 12. 

Castro now faces 977 criminal counts – up from 329 – for kidnapping, rape, felonious assault and child endangerment in the case involving three Cleveland women who went missing for more than a decade. 

Calling the number of counts “pretty uncommon,” Filler speculated that the prosecutors may ultimately streamline the charges while making a symbolic statement about the severity of Castro’s alleged crimes. 

“It’s a shout to the world that this is absolutely intolerable,” Filler said.