SCHENECTADY — An Albany man accused of kidnapping three women earlier this year now faces additional charges of attempted murder and rape.

Joseph Kruppenbacher, 62, of 15 Besch Ave., was indicted today on two counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of first-degree rape. He also faces a host of other charges, including unlawful imprisonment, assault and attempted assault.

In one case, Kruppenbacher is accused of kidnapping a woman Jan. 13 on Route 7 in Rotterdam and then attempting to kill her by driving at a high speed toward a remote destination, all while displaying a knife and threatening to kill her, according to the indictment.

Kruppenbacher is also accused of kidnapping another woman Feb. 5 from the Price Chopper parking lot on Altamont Avenue and trying to kill her by displaying a knife, choking her and threatening to kill her. He also allegedly drove his vehicle at high speed directly at her. The woman avoided injury by jumping over a guard rail at the last instant, according to the indictment.

He was also indicted on one count of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault, accused of raping a woman in January in a sand and gravel pit on Becker Drive off Route 7.

Kruppenbacher was arrested last month, accused of picking up three women in Schenectady since January, taking each to Rotterdam and refusing to let them leave his vehicle, police said.

The women were allegedly held Jan. 13, Feb. 5 and April 29. One woman said she fled by jumping out of his moving vehicle. Another said she fled when the car was stopped. In the final incident, the woman reported she was tied up and that Kruppenbacher attempted to rape her.

At a bail hearing last month, Kruppenbacher's attorney, Terence Kindlon, accused the alleged victims of being prostitutes, saying later that he believes that brings with it credibility issues. He also speculated an attempted rape count may have arisen over a contract dispute. Kindlon also said one of the alleged victims tried to steal $43 from Kruppenbacher.

With his wife in attendance, Kruppenbacher was ordered held on $100,000 bail, an amount Kindlon called grossly excessive. Kindlon argued that Kruppenbacher is a Vietnam veteran with no criminal history who owns property in Albany and is a top-level chess player. He is not a flight risk, Kindlon said.