Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorney Blog
A man dubbed the “Arlington Rapist” has been arrested for yet another rape in Jacksonville. According to an article on News4Jax.com, the man is currently serving a life sentence for a previous Duval County sexual assault. The State Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville has been granted with funds to test untested rape kits. Apparently a rape kit was tested from a 2005 sexual assault and kidnapping downtown. The alleged victim reported that an unknown black male pointed a gun at her at the Greyhound Bus Station and was told to walk with him. The man allegedly led her to a church and forced intercourse with her. After, she had a sexual assault forensic exam. Twelve years later, her examination was selected for further processing and was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for DNA testing. A foreign profile was discovered and it allegedly matched the man who was arrested. The woman was shown a photo line up with the man in it and she could not identify her attacker, but told police none of the men were consensual sexual partners.
The man is facing kidnapping with a weapon and sexual battery charges in Florida. Both charges are considered life felonies in Jacksonville. To prove the charge of kidnapping in Florida, the state would have to prove that the man confined, abducted or imprisoned the woman by force, secret or threat with the intent to commit any felony. Sexual battery is defined as any oral, anal or vaginal penetration or union with the sexual organ of another person without their consent. The State Attorney’s Office has established a new unit within their office to handle these “cold cases”. As more and more rape kits are tested, more and more people will be identified through DNA and will be eventually be arrested in Jacksonville on sex charges. While DNA evidence is powerful, there is a spectrum of levels the DNA matches and points to a particular person. The level of accuracy of the evidence found depends on how much of a foreign DNA strand is located in the kit.
Sexual charges are the most serious charges one can face. They are punishable as if you have killed someone and there is rarely physical evidence. Just someone saying it happened. If you or someone you love is accused of committing a sex crime in Duval, Clay, Nassau or St. Johns Counties, call an experienced criminal attorney immediately. You have the right to remain silent. Exercise that right and call.
If you or a loved one needs a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call The Mussallem Law Firm at (904) 365-5200 for a FREE CONSULTATION. Our Duval County Sex Crime Lawyer, Victoria “Tori” Mussallem, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.