Authorities say DNA evidence helped link a Massillon man to two alleged sexual assaults reported more than two years apart by young city women.

Nathan Trammell, 40, whose last known address was 807 Dielhenn St. SE, Massillon, was indicted by a Stark County grand jury earlier this week on two counts each of rape, kidnapping and sexual battery. Sexually violent predator specifications are attached to each of the charges. The kidnapping charges also include sexual motivation specifications. Authorities arrested Trammell last week on warrants, court records show. Last week, Trammell pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

A final pre-trial hearing is set for June 4, and the case is scheduled to go to trial June 11. The case has been assigned to Judge Charles Brown. If convicted of all counts, including the sexual motivation and violent offender specifications, Trammell faces a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison, according to county prosecutors.

Public Defender Stephen Reisch could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

According to the indictment, Trammell held a then-18-year-old woman against her will and sexually assaulted her in March 2009 at her residence. The second incident, which involved a then-20-year-old woman, allegedly occurred in May 2011 at a city residence. The sexual battery charges allege that the judgment of the victims was substantially impaired or they were unaware that the act was being committed. The victims did not know each other.

From our understanding, he did not have a (boyfriend-girlfriend) relationship with them, said Massillon police Det. Bobby Grizzard, who investigated the case.

Grizzard said police developed Trammell as a suspect after the first victim stepped forward. Physical evidence was obtained from the victim, he said, but police lacked a DNA comparison from Trammell.

Police also identified Trammell as a suspect in the second case, which occurred under circumstances similar to the first. The investigation wasnt solidified, however, until last February when police obtained a DNA standard from Trammell following his arrest on an unrelated charge. That evidence was forwarded to the Canton-Stark County Crime Lab for testing and the results tied Trammell to both cases.

Although the DNA is an important part of the case, there are other variables (such as victim statements) that also helped to tie things together, Grizzard said.

Grizzard declined to say if alcohol was involved in either of the incidents.

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DNA links suspect to two rapes in Massillon