A new federal indictment accuses Negasi Zuberi of an attempted escape from the Jackson County Jail and a second kidnapping in addition to the alleged abduction of a woman from Washington to Oregon last summer.

A three-week trial is now set to start in federal court in Medford on Oct. 7. Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Sweet estimated at least 50 witnesses will be called at trial, with roughly half based in Klamath Falls or Medford.

The superseding indictment now accuses Zuberi, 30, of also kidnapping a second woman in Klamath County on May 6, of an attempted escape from his cell in the Jackson County Jail in August and of unlawfully possessing a handgun, a shotgun, two rifles and numerous rounds of ammunition as a convicted felon.

He initially faced a two-count indictment charging him with kidnapping and transportation with intent to engage in sexual activity.

The new eight-count indictment charges him with two counts of kidnapping, two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, two counts of being a felon with ammunition, and one count each of transportation for criminal sexual activity and attempted escape.

Federal prosecutors say Zuberi in July kidnapped a woman from Seattle after posing as an undercover police officer, drove her 450 miles to Klamath Falls, sexually assaulted her on the trip and then locked her in a cell in the garage of his rental home in Klamath Falls.

The new indictment doesn’t give any details on the second kidnapping charge.

It picks up the alleged jail escape case that was initially filed against Zuberi in state court. According to court records, a Jackson County maintenance worker noticed an unusual noise coming from one of the cells while he was outside the county jail about 12:45 p.m. on Aug. 22 and alerted sheriff’s deputies. Deputies found Zuberi on his bunk bed, near a window that appeared to be chipped, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

He’s accused of using an improvised, screw-like device to strike and shatter glass in the cell, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Jackson County Circuit Court. He then covered the shattered glass with books and paper in an apparent attempt to hide it, the affidavit said. The device was found attached to his sandal, the affidavit said.

Nonetheless, Zuberi was transferred back to the Jackson County Jail last week from the federal prison at Sheridan.

Zuberi requested the transfer in a hearing before U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane last week.

“I would like to just be in a safe environment. I don’t feel safe at Sheridan. There’s violent people there,” he said in court.

McShane said that would be up to the U.S. Marshals Service. “Jackson County may not want you back there,” McShane told Zuberi, considering his attempted escape charge. But jail records show he was returned to Jackson County on Thursday.

Zuberi was arrested in Reno, Nevada, on July 16, a day after the alleged kidnapping of the woman from Seattle, who escaped from the cell at Zuberi’s rental house and flagged down a motorist for help, according to the FBI and Klamath Falls police.

Zuberi criticized the FBI in a letter to the court that claimed the case against him was weak, in part because he and his lawyer say the FBI destroyed the makeshift cell at his house within 24 to 48 hours after raiding the home.

The FBI released photos of the so-called cell, which were picked up by national media, Zuberi wrote.

“I was made famous from this vital evidence,” his letter said.

Zuberi had sought a trial date in June, but his court-appointed defense lawyer Amy E. Potter last week told the court she would need more time to prepare and suggested the October date.