Man arrested by US Marshals for sexual assault in 2022

The man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2022 in Star City was located and arrested earlier this week by U.S. Marshals in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Antonio Gabriel Mendez, 32, of Guatemala, was arrested Monday afternoon at a restaurant in St. Claire, Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Mendez also used the names Emilio Pascual Guzman and Tony Gabriel.

Mendez has been wanted by the West Virginia State Police since he was named as a suspect in the first-degree sexual assault of a woman on the Caperton Rail Trail near Star City Park on September 20, 2022.

The West Virginia State Police issued an arrest warrant for Mendez on March 3, 2023.

Shortly after the arrest warrant was issued, the U.S. Marshals Service began searching for Mendez, who was believed to have fled the area.

In an October 2023 Marshals press release regarding the search, Mendez was listed under his alias, Emilio Guzman.

“This case demonstrates tremendous coordination between law enforcement agencies,” said Acting U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of West Virginia Terry Moore.

“State police were able to quickly identify the suspect in this case and asked us for help in locating him after learning he had fled the area. The swift action of our colleagues at the U.S. Marshals in the Middle District of Pennsylvania resulted in a quick and safe arrest.”

According to officials, Mendez will first appear in court in Pennsylvania and, if arrested, will be extradited to West Virginia.

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