Al Allan De Los Santos Mueses, 40, is slated to face trial after being charged with four counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct dating back to his time as a foreign exchange student at Western Michigan University. The decision to move forward with a trial was announced by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, with the case heading to the 9th Circuit Court in Kalamazoo County.
Mueses was arrested on July 11 and consequently extradited to Michigan from Miami. Following an accusation that in March of 2010 he sexually assaulted a 20-year-old female student in his apartment, no charges were initially issued, despite the report made to the university police and a subsequent forensic medical examination. The case was reopened, leading to his indictment on July 1 this year, according to a statement from the Attorney General's Office. To secure the arrest and extradition of Mueses, the Kalamazoo Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) played a crucial role, exemplifying their commitment to addressing such cases.
Attorney General Nessel highlighted the hard work of SAKI units that help to ensure justice for victims of past sexual assaults. "I remain grateful to our state’s devoted SAKI units and their efforts to bring about justice for victims of sexual assaults perpetrated years ago," she said at the arraignment, signaling the importance of revisiting abandoned evidence and keeping the search for justice alive for survivors, as reported by the Attorney General's Office.
Further details revealed that Mueses attended Western Michigan University from 2009 to 2013. The case remains open as the SAKI team continues investigating more than 200 cold sexual assault cases in Kalamazoo County dating from 1976 to 2015. Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey S. Getting acknowledged the challenges posed by time and suspects’ mobility but emphasized his office’s determination. “Hard work, persistence, and a commitment to justice are hallmarks of my office, the Attorney General’s office, and the SAKI program,” he stated, as per the Attorney General’s Office.
Mueses' trial proceedings are moving forward after Judge Kathleen Hemingway of the 8th District Court in Kalamazoo bound him over on August 14. The pretrial date has yet to be determined. In the interim, anyone with relevant information concerning Mueses' case or similar allegations has been urged to reach out to Kalamazoo County SAKI Investigator Richard Johnson at 269-569-0515 or through email, emphasizing a community call-to-action in the pursuit of justice.
