Several cases against a suspected serial rapist — including several in Butler County — are being consolidated and will be prosecuted in Beaver County.

Jonathan D. Vance, 31, of White Township, Beaver County, was set for a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Sue Haggerty, but the case was referred to the Beaver County prosecuting officials for consolidation.

Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier said Wednesday that state law allows district attorneys to refer cases to other counties for consolidation in matters involving the same defendant or course of conduct.

Vance was charged Aug. 8 by state police in Beaver County with rape of an unconscious victim, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and sexual assault — all felonies — after allegations he raped a 17-year-old Butler County girl at Bernie's Mobile Home Park in Winfield Township in December of 2014, after plying her with alcohol and marijuana.

In court documents, state police say that the girl contacted investigators on Aug. 14 and reported that Vance had sexually assaulted her on Dec. 1, 2014. She told investigators that she was 17 when, along with one of her friends, she visited Vance's home in the trailer park to drink. She said Vance gave her alcohol and marijuana, and that she had too much to drink, became sick, and later fell asleep on a mattress in another room.

Sometime later that night, the girl told police, she awoke to find herself partially naked and Vance having sex with her. She told police that she told Vance to get off her, which he did, but she was unable to find a ride home until the next day, when Vance drove her.

The girl told police that she came forward after a friend sent her a picture of Vance's mugshot that had been published after his arrest in Beaver County last month.

Since then, investigators have located additional victims and filed more charges.

Lozier said 12 cases have now been filed against Vance in Beaver and Butler counties, with possibly more on the way.

Lozier said a preliminary hearing will be held on all the cases, but has yet to be scheduled.

“This is a very complex case, with so many victims, so many locations and so many dates,” Lozier said. “My office and my detectives have worked very well with the State Police in Beaver, Lawrence and Troop D in Butler regarding these cases. This is a real team effort.”

Vance is being held in Beaver County Jail on a combined bail of nearly $2.5 million, according to Beaver County Jail records personnel.