A former foreign exchange student from Western Michigan University is facing trial for an alleged assault that took place over a decade ago. Al Allan De Los Santos Mueses, 40, is accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student in March 2010. At the time, the victim was 20 years old and met Mueses at a campus recreation center. Although she reported the incident and underwent a forensic exam, no charges were filed initially.
Mueses was extradited from Miami, Florida, on July 11 after being charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The case was brought to court following a renewed investigation by the Kalamazoo Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). This program, started in 2016, focuses on prosecuting sexual assaults linked to previously untested evidence kits.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel praised the SAKI team’s dedication to ensuring victims receive justice, stating, “Their commitment ensures that survivors have the opportunity to see their cases fully investigated and that perpetrators are held accountable.” Currently, the Kalamazoo SAKI team is looking into more than 200 cold cases from 1976 to 2015.
While a pretrial date has yet to be set for Mueses, anyone with information regarding the case is urged to reach out to Kalamazoo County SAKI Investigator Richard Johnson at 269-569-0515 or via email.
This case highlights a crucial trend in criminal justice: the increasing use of DNA and forensic evidence to revisit unsolved cases. According to recent statistics, initiatives like SAKI have successfully solved numerous cold cases, giving hope to victims and their families.
For more insights on the effects of sexual assault initiatives, you can visit the Michigan attorney general’s website.
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Dominican Republic, Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University, Sexual Assault, Dana Nessel
