YOUNGSTOWN — Three Youngstown men were secretly indicted on various sex charges Dec. 19, and all three were arraigned Dec. 31 in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

In a secret indictment, the name of the defendant is not released to the public until after the defendant has been arrested. The men were subsequently identified as Joseph D. Stevens, Chad R. Scofinsky and Nicholas L. Belcastro.

Prosecutors say there is no connection between the three cases. The Stevens and Scofinsky cases were investigated by the Youngstown Police Department. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigated the Belcastro case, said Caitlyn Andrews, assistant county prosecutor.

Stevens, 43, of Manchester Avenue, is indicted on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual battery. Bond was set at $75,000, and he posted bond Jan. 3.

His indictment alleges that he raped a child three times in June and committed sexual battery against the child three times in June. If convicted of the rape charges, Stevens could get more than 30 years in prison. If convicted of the sexual battery charges, he could get several years in prison on each count. His next hearing will be at 1:30 pm. Feb. 6 before Judge Anthony D’Apolito.

Scofinsky, 36, of Noel Drive is indicted on two counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition. If convicted of the rape charges, Scofinsky could get a life prison sentence on each one.

The gross sexual imposition charges are third-degree felonies, which could each result in several years in prison if convicted. Bond of $300,000 was set in his case, and he was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim, according to court records.

Scofinsky has been in the Mahoning County jail since Dec. 20, according to jail records. His next hearing will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 21 before Judge John Durkin.

Belcastro, 43, of Canfield Road is indicted on five counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person and five counts of illegal use or a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance. If convicted of those offenses, he could get more than 10 years in prison.

Bond was set at $25,000, which Belcastro posted Jan. 2. His next hearing will be at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 27 before Judge Anthony Donofrio.