Michigan Sex Crime Attorneys Blog

On Sunday, May 10 at approximately 5 a.m., a 27-year-old woman claims a man tried to sexually assault her as she was riding a CTA Red Line train between the Fullerton and North/Clybourn stations, according to a news article at the Chicago Tribune. The two were the only passengers on the train according to ABC news report.

Ronald Sparks, a 34-year-old South Side man, was ultimately arrested in the case after police sent out surveillance photos in a community alert on Sunday evening. According to Officer Janel Sedevic, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Police Department, the alleged victim declined medical attention.

Thomas Hunt of the Guardian Angels handed out fliers with surveillance photos of the suspect early Monday morning, and said he was not surprised Sparks was caught due to the clarity of the photos. He went on to say that CTA spent a considerable amount of time and effort installing the surveillance cameras.

Recently, two Troy University students were arrested in regards to a sexual assault that allegedly occurred in March over spring break at Panama City Beach in Florida, according to an article at the New York Times.

News reports claim a 19-year-old woman who was incapacitated and believed she had been drugged was sexually assaulted as hundreds of beach goers looked on. The two men who were arrested include 23-year-old Ryan Austin Calhoun or Mobile, AL, and 22-year-old Delonte Martistee of Bainbridge, GA. Sheriff Frank McKeithen said that they were also searching for two more people, a third man they believed may have been involved in the “gang-rape-type attack,” and a fourth person whose role was not specified.

The alleged victim said that she did not recall the assault clearly enough to report it, as she believed she had been drugged. Authorities learned of the sexual assault after a video of the assault captured on a cell phone was discovered while investigating another incident. The video was then sent by Troy police to the sheriff’s office in Florida. After reviewing the cell phone video, authorities identified the woman and determined the sexual assault occurred behind the Spinnaker Beach Club. Calhoun and Martistee were being extradited to Bay County, where the sexual assault took place.

On Tuesday March 3, 31-year-old Dinis Oliveira, a Sheriff’s officer with the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, turned himself in after a woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by Oliveira in her home. According to a news article at NJ.com, the assault took place over the weekend. The woman contacted authorities on Saturday, claiming that the man who came to her home said he was a law enforcement officer. She complied with his demands before reporting the sexual assault to police.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray did not reveal details of the alleged assault, however upon turning himself in, Oliveira was charged with one count each of fourth-degree criminal coercion, second-degree sexual assault, and second-degree sexual misconduct. According to Sheriff Armando Fontoura, Oliveira was not on duty and not in uniform when the alleged assault took place. Oliveira has been suspended without pay, and had joined the Sheriff’s Department in June of last year after working for about one year as a volunteer deputy sheriff’s officer.

At the time of news reports, authorities were still investigating the incident. Oliveira was held on a $200,000 bond with no 10% option.

In the early morning hours of Monday, January 19, a 25-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted after she was approached from behind in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, according to a news article at the Chicago Tribune.

The victim was on West Pierce Avenue walking on the sidewalk when the attack took place, according to Veejay Zala, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department. The woman told police that the man threw her to the ground and sexually assaulted her near an alley after ripping her pants off. When the victim screamed for help, she caught the attention of someone passing by the area, who verbally challenged the woman’s attacker, causing him to flee the scene. The victim was taken to an area hospital.

At the time of news reports, police were still looking for the man who is described as a black man wearing a dark coat and pants, approximately 180 to 220 lbs., between 5′ 8″ and 6′ tall, somewhere between 25 and 40 years of age. He may have also been carrying a handgun.

On New Year’s Eve, Chicago police officers noticed a vehicle that was partially blocking an alley and double parked, according to a news article at the Chicago Tribune. As they approached the vehicle, Cook County sheriff’s Deputy Fernando B. Rodriguez attempted to send the officers away, telling them that it was “OK,” he was on the job. Rodriguez was not on duty at the time, however a woman jumped out of the passenger side of the car and told police what happened.

According to the woman, who was a known prostitute to police, Rodriguez asked her to get into the car. He then displayed a holstered handgun, told her he was a police officer, and according to Beth Novy, Assistant State’s Attorney, told the woman that he would let her go “if she handled this the right way.” Rodriguez was arrested after it was determined that he was not on duty and was not acting in an official capacity. In addition, Novy alleged that police had seen Rodriguez driving around in the area, which is known for prostitution, in November.

Rodriguez, who began working for Cook County in July of 1991, is charged with felony attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault.

On Thursday, December 18, 22-year-old Kevin D. Champion was sentenced to 22 years and one month to 40 years in prison for the 2011 rape of a woman at gunpoint, according to a news article at Mlive.com.

In July, Champion pleaded no contest as charged to one count each of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a weapon, armed robbery, kidnapping, and extortion, and three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a weapon. The crimes occurred in late September of 2011 outside 2001 Limerick at Webber on Saginaw’s southeast side.

In March, the victim testified at Champion’s preliminary hearing, but could not identify him as the offender. The Michigan State Police crime lab conducted tests that indicated a semen stain on the woman’s hoodie matched samples of Champion’s DNA.

On December 17, an article was published on the NFL website regarding the San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald. According to the article, McDonald is suspected of sexual assault, and is under investigation. His San Jose home was searched by San Jose Police Department detectives, according to Sgt. Heather Randol.

On Tuesday evening, an area hospital notified the department that a woman, allegedly the victim, was seeking medical treatment. She told police that she was “possibly” sexually assaulted by McDonald, however no arrest had been made at the time of the news article.

The league is investigating the matter, according to an NFL spokesperson. In addition, Trent Baalke, general manager for the 49ers, said on Monday that the decision was made by the team to release McDonald from his contract.