Articles Posted in Sex Crimes

Recently, 73-year-old Harry Morel Jr., a 33-year veteran prosecutor in St. Charles Parish in Louisiana, was sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly trading sex for leniency in cases he prosecuted.  Federal authorities investigated the case for three years before Morel eventually pleaded guilty in April of this year.

Authorities claim Morel is a ‘sexual predator’ who engaged in sexual misconduct for about 20 years with at least 20 difference women, according to the Times-Picayune.  News reports reveal that one woman who was facing a DUI charge helped build a case against Morel, an extremely popular man who had been elected as St. Charles Parish’s district attorney for more than 30 years.  Even though Morel is accused of giving women charged with crimes favorable treatment in exchange for sex, he hasn’t been charged with any sex crimes, and has been disbarred as he is scheduled to begin serving his prison sentence on September 26.
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According to federal campus safety data, in 2014 the colleges and universities with the highest number of rapes on campus were the University of Connecticut and Brown University, a private Ivy League university in Providence, RI. However, sexual assault among college students (whether on or off campus) is a growing problem around the nation.

A survey involving 150,000+ students at 27 universities conducted by the Association of American Universities revealed some very disturbing numbers. What’s not surprising is that in many cases, unwanted sexual contact or even rape occurs when students are under the influence of drugs or alcohol – in other words, incapacitated.

The survey found that 23% of female college students who participated said they had been the victims of unwanted sexual contact, whether it be kissing or touching, or even rape. Almost 11% claimed they were forced into unwanted oral sex or penetration.

A Dearborn man has been charged with attempted sexual assault and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct after he allegedly lured a woman to an abandoned home through a housecleaning ad in Canton, according to news reports.

The two met in Dearborn, where the woman who was answering the ad got into a vehicle with the man who drove her to a vacant home in Canton and forced her inside. She fought the man off and ran to a neighbor who called 911, while the alleged attacker fled. He was apprehended in Dearborn a few hours later.

As a Michigan sex crimes attorney well known for achieving outstanding results for clients accused of sexual assault, rape, and related offenses, Scott Grabel and the staff of criminal defense lawyers at Grabel & Associates are driven to obtain the best possible outcome for every client the firm represents.

Kip Wilson, a 47-year-old Huron High School teacher and resident of Ypsilanti, is on trial again for the alleged drugging and rape of a woman who Wilson claims he was trying to build an exclusive relationship with. The alleged rape took place in July of 2012 after Wilson and the woman, who came to his home, drank what have been referred to as “killer margaritas.”

Wilson was tried on charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, but a mistrial was declared in October of last year after jurors received a document by mistake, one that prejudiced them. He is now on trial for a second time, and adamantly insists from the witness stand that he did not rape the woman, that she was far more aggressive and experienced in the area of sex than he is, and that she was the one who initiated oral sex after the two continued drinking margaritas, which he claimed she said was the best she had ever had.

Wilson said on the stand that the two did eventually have sex, and that the alleged victim was “very active,” asking him to engage in acts he found uncomfortable. Wilson went on to say that the woman fell asleep, and when she later awoke seemed confused, asking if they had engaged in sex. Wilson told her yes, and had also told her where she could find some medicine for her headache. He said that out of concern, he had her stay for a while and drink water. During that time he claims the two discussed the possibility of being exclusive, what had taken place that night, and plans for future dates.

Recently, 45-year-old Sgt. Michael E. Alexander, a Washington County, Oregon sheriff’s sergeant, was arrested for allegedly traveling to Idaho twice in 2015 for the purpose of having sex with a 15-year-old boy Alexander met through a dating app, according to authorities.

Alexander has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of investigations. News reports claim he faces once charge of enticing a child over the Internet or other communication device, and two counts of lewd conduct with a minor child under 16. Alexander was jailed on February 4 and bail set at $1 million. A spokesman with the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office said Alexander turned himself in in Idaho.

Inappropriate text messages are what led police in Idaho to investigate Alexander. The alleged victim’s mother found the text messages on her son’s cell phone. Authorities discovered Alexander had come in contact with the victim via Grindr, a dating app. He then traveled to Idaho twice, once in June of 2015 and once in September of 2015, allegedly to have sex with the teenage boy.

Yesterday it was announced that a 37-year-old former science teacher was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was found guilty of choking and sexually assaulting a woman in October of 2013. Dale Kukucka of Andover still proclaims his innocence in the incident that allegedly took place inside a women’s restroom at the East Haddam Grange Hall. Kukucka is accused of choking the 23-year-old victim to the point of unconsciousness, then sexually assaulting her.

A public defender in the case requested that Kukucka get five years due to the fact that up until the time of his arrest, the defendant had lived an admirable life. He also pointed out that the crimes were fueled by alcohol. According to news reports, Kukucka, who was a teacher at Carmen Arace Intermediate School and the woman were at the hall during the Moodus Drum and Fife Corps Ancient Muster. It was not mentioned whether the two knew each other.

In June of last year, Kukucka rejected a plea deal choosing to go to trial. He stills insists he is innocent, but now stands convicted on a single charge each of first-degree strangulation, third-degree sexual assault, and third-degree assault. Two people came into the bathroom while the alleged attack was occurring, a man and a woman. The man attempted to keep Kukucka there until police arrived, but the defendant assaulted him and then fled. Kukucka’s girlfriend reportedly showed a photo of the defendant that was on her cell phone to the man, who confirmed he was the one who assaulted himself and the victim.