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Onil Castro
The Associated Press

Ariel Castro appears in court to face charges, bail set at $8 million

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Ariel Castro appeared in a Cleveland courtroom Thursday morning where he was charged with kidnapping and rape and his bail was set at $8 million.

Castro is charged with one count of kidnapping, as well as three charges of rape. The high bail -- $2 million for each of his alleged victims -- means he will remain in prison until his trial. It is possible he could face additional charges. Castro has not yet entered a plea in the case.

Castro is the owner of the house in Cleveland where three women who had been missing for a decade were found alive, on Monday. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight where reunited with their families. A fourth girl, a child who belonged to Berry, was also found in the home.

Castro’s two brothers, Pedro Castro, 54, and Onil Castro, 50, had been arrested on outstanding charges, but a decade-old charge against Onil were dismissed. Pedro paid a $100 fine for an open-container charge from 2011 and was released. Police now say there is no evidence to suggest the brothers were involved in the alleged kidnappings.

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Emily Senger is a contributing editor. She helped Maclean’s win a gold National Magazine Award for Website of the Year. She does most of her contributing from Alberta.

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