Herald staff
A man accused of leading a sadomasochistic sex ring pleaded innocent Wednesday to charges of abducting and raping Japanese college students.
Edmund F. Ball, 40, remained in jail on $1 million bail. A trial date was set for Jan. 22.
Ball pleaded innocent to three counts of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree rape and two counts of intimidating a witness.
On Tuesday, two other defendants also pleaded innocent to kidnap, rape and assault charges. David M. Dailey, 38, and Lana C. Vickery, 43, faced the same charges as Ball, plus two additional counts each of first-degree kidnapping and second-degree assault by torture.
Prosecutors allege two Eastern Washington University students were offered a ride by Vickery and Dailey near downtown Spokane on Oct. 28. They were shocked with a stun gun after climbing into the car, but managed to escape.
On Nov. 11, prosecutors say, three students waiting for a bus near the Mukogawa Fort Wright campus were offered a ride by Vickery. They were taken to a remote area where, court papers say, Ball and Dailey were waiting.
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