By CHRISTOPHER BOBBY Tribune Chronicle

WARREN — A 30-year-old Newton Falls man, who admitted earlier this month to police and a Children Services investigator that he had sex with an underage female family member, was named in a three-count indictment issued Wednesday by a Trumbull County grand jury.

The three charges of rape against Edward Mark Logan, 334 Morrison Ave., carry potential life sentences since the victim is 11 years old. The indictment accuses Logan of digital rape against the girl once in the summer, another time this past fall and again on Dec. 11.

Life counts of rape mean a defendant — if convicted — does not become eligible for parole until after serving at least 10 years.

Grand jurors met in special session Wednesday afternoon before issuing the special report that eliminates the need for a preliminary hearing that was scheduled today in Newton Falls Municipal Court. The grand jury heard two witnesses before issuing the indictment.

Logan’s case was assigned to Common Pleas Judge Andrew Logan. The defendant, who was brought in for questioning and arrested Dec. 13, will be arraigned in Common Pleas Court this morning.

He made an initial appearance in Newton Falls Municipal Court, where his bond was set at $50,000. He remains in Trumbull County Jail.

An assistant county prosecutor said the victim in the case told a school employee of the allegations, which prompted the investigation.

Newton Falls police claim in an arrest report last week that Logan told them repeatedly that he had been sexually abused as a child before he broke down during the interview and confessed to the accusations. Police state that he began crying while being questioned and stated he knew what he did was wrong, but he couldn’t control his urges. He told officers he needed help and he didn’t want to be ‘‘like this’’ anymore, the report states.

Logan volunteered to come to police headquarters and give the statement to an officer and the Children Services investigator.