A Seville man is facing a first-degree rape charge after county detectives say DNA from a sexual-assault kit collected in 2000 tied him to a case that had been cold for 26 years.
Authorities identified the suspect as Anthony D. Collins, 48. The assault was reported on Feb. 15, 2000, and the victim told investigators the attack happened inside her vehicle in or near the City of Green, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office.
In a press release, the Summit County Sheriff's Office said detectives submitted the sexual-assault collection kit from the 2000 case to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which developed a single suspect DNA profile but could not match it to any known person at the time. That profile was kept on file and, after it was uploaded to the FBI's Combined DNA Index System in January 2026, investigators say it matched Collins, who is listed as a Seville resident. Detectives then reopened the investigation and presented the new evidence to prosecutors before charges were filed.
Collins was arrested yesterday and taken to the Summit County Jail. He was arraigned in Barberton Municipal Court on the first-degree rape charge. Court records show he posted 10% of a $50,000 bond and was released, as reported by Cleveland.com.
How Investigators Landed The DNA Match
Law-enforcement labs have to meet strict quality standards before they can upload an evidence profile to the national DNA database. Once a forensic profile clears those hurdles, it can be searched against offender and forensic indices across the country. The FBI explains how those database searches can turn an unidentified DNA profile from an old kit into a fresh investigative lead years later, which the Summit County release says is what happened in this case.
What A First-Degree Rape Charge Means In Ohio
Under Ohio law, rape is charged as a first-degree felony and carries a range of potential prison terms. Sentencing rules require a judge to choose a stated minimum term from set options that typically run between three and 11 years, with additional time possible under state sentencing statutes. Details on how judges pick minimum terms and calculate maximums are laid out in the Ohio Supreme Court sentencing guide. An arrest is not a conviction, and Collins is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The sheriff's office release did not identify the victim. Summit County officials asked anyone with information to contact the Sheriff's Office tip line at (330) 643-2154, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office, and detectives say the investigation remains active as prosecutors review the case for next steps.
The case is now in the Barberton Municipal Court and will move through the local system. Court dockets will list upcoming hearings and filings as they are scheduled.
