CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that a Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging Christian Burks, 27, for several sexual assaults and kidnappings of women between December 2018 and December 2020 in Cleveland.

“Christian Burks is a serial sexual predator. He will be held accountable for his actions”.

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On December 9, 2018, Burks, the victim, 20, and several others attended a party at an apartment on East 4th Street near Prospect Avenue. Burks went into a room where the victim was laying down and sexually assaulted her despite her repeated attempts to stop him.

On May 24, 2020, the victim, 23, and her male friend, 23, ordered an Uber outside of a bar on West 6th Street near Johnson Court. Both got into Burks’ vehicle believing it to be their ride. Burks drove them to a gas station on Lorain Avenue near Fulton Road. When the male exited the vehicle to purchase water, Burks sped away with the female victim still inside his car. Burks later dropped the victim off at her residence after stealing her credit cards, which he used to make several purchases.

On May 27, 2020, Burks and the victim, 24, were engaged in a verbal altercation near West 38th Street and Vine Court when Burks picked her up, forced her into his vehicle, and drove off. The victim yelled for help and tried exiting his vehicle near the Eddy Road exit ramp by Interstate 90 when Burks grabbed her by the neck, dragged her back into the car, and sped away.

On November 15, 2020, the victim, 21, was at a bar near West 6th Street and Lakeside Avenue when she became separated from her friends. Burks sexually assaulted her multiple times in his vehicle despite the victim’s several attempts to stop him.

On December 14, 2020, the victim, 22, and her friend ordered an Uber outside of a bar on West 6th Street near Johnson Court. When their ride showed up, the friend walked to the vehicle but soon realized the victim was no longer with her. Burks sexually assaulted the victim in another vehicle, took her to an East Cleveland motel, and fled the scene before police arrived.

The Cleveland Division of Police’s Sex Crimes Unit conducted an investigation that connected Burks to the crimes. He has been indicted on the following charges:

  • Eight counts of Rape
  • Seven counts of Kidnapping
  • Six counts of Gross Sexual Imposition
  • One count of Abduction
  • One count of Domestic Violence
  • One count of Theft
  • One count of Misuse of credit cards

Burks pleaded not guilty today at his arraignment and his bond was set at $250,000. His first pretrial is scheduled for Thursday, April 15 at 9 a.m.