A man from Branch County, Michigan, is set to be tried for charges related to the sexual assault of a minor, after being captured in Florida following his evasion of law enforcement for several years. Alex New, 54, faces two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct; the Branch County Prosecuting Attorney's Office originally charged him in 2016, but he fled the state, triggering a prolonged manhunt.
The Attorney General of Michigan, Dana Nessel, announced New's extradition and impending trial, stating, "Mr. New, who was once a fugitive, will now stand trial thanks to this vital partnership," as per a WWJ Newsradio article, the capture was made possible through Operation Survivor Justice, a collaborative effort between Nessel's office, local county prosecutors and the U.S. Marshals Service to locate, apprehend, and return Michigan fugitives with outstanding sexual assault warrants.
Following his arrest in Florida earlier in the year, New was brought back to Branch County in June as part of Operation Survivor Justice, and yesterday, he was ordained by Judge Brent Weigle of the 3A District Court in Coldwater to face trial, which is scheduled to take place in the 15th Circuit Court in front of Judge Patrick William O'Grady on September 23 at 1:30 p.m., according to a news release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
Echoing the importance of the operation, Nessel said, "Operation Survivor Justice is about ensuring that those who try to evade criminal accountability are brought to justice, no matter how long it takes or where they try to hide." This sentiment was captured in a statement obtained by upnorthlive, whose coverage confirms that the initiative emphasizes retribution and accountability for those who have avoided the reach of the law irrespective of the time passed or their location.
