Formal felony charges have been filed against a 32-year-old Kansas man accused of attacking a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student near campus late last month. Joseph Favata is facing charges of attempted first-degree sexual assault and first-degree false imprisonment, and investigators now believe he may be hiding out in the Wichita, Kansas, area.
According to 1011now.com, the alleged incident happened in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 29, near 16th and R streets, just off the UNL city campus. Favata is accused of approaching a student in the area and engaging in unwanted fondling and kissing, the outlet reports.
How Investigators Tracked Favata Down
UNL police investigators and officers worked to identify a suspect in the days following the alleged assault, and once they zeroed in on Favata, they turned to the Lancaster County Attorney's Office to secure an arrest warrant, per the same report. That warrant has now been issued, though his exact location remains unknown.
Police believe Favata may be in the Wichita area and say they are coordinating with Kansas law enforcement to track him down, the station notes. His information has also been entered into the National Crime Information Center database, a step that makes the warrant accessible to law enforcement agencies across the country, not just in Nebraska and Kansas.
Tips Sought as Search Continues
UNL police are asking anyone with information about the case, or about Favata's whereabouts, to come forward. Tips can be directed to UNLPD by phone at (402) 472-2222 or by email at [email protected], the department says.
Anyone looking to verify the warrant itself should know that, per guidance from the City of Lincoln's open data office, all arrest warrants must be confirmed directly with law enforcement to determine their current status and validity. Those interested in tracking the case as it moves through the courts can search for updates through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's statewide case search, which covers trial courts across the state.
