Former Customs and Border Protection agent found guilty of sexual assault and kidnapping of minors

By DOJ News

Photos: Video\YouTube Screenshots

After two days of deliberations, a jury found former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent Aaron Mitchell guilty of both a civil rights violation and kidnapping charge for sexually assaulting and abducting a minor victim. The jury also found that the defendant's conduct involved aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping and resulted in bodily harm.

“The heinous crimes committed against a young middle school student by a person sworn to uphold the law are indescribable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant had a duty to protect his community, but instead he abused his power, kidnapping, tying up and restraining a young girl and abusing her for hours in his apartment. With this verdict, the jury has done us a great service by holding this former federal police officer accountable. The Department of Justice will continue to advocate for victims of sexual assault, especially children, and we will pursue law enforcement officers who break the law with every tool at our disposal.”

“We rely on our police officers to protect children, schools and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “This defendant dishonored his badge and his fellow officers by violating his oath and harming the most vulnerable among us. We thank the Douglas Police Department and the FBI for their dedicated and compassionate investigation of this case and for defending the rights of a courageous victim.”

“Mitchell has not only violated his oath, but also the trust placed in him as a law enforcement officer. Officials, especially in law enforcement, must adhere to the highest ethical standards. Those who fail to meet these standards must be rooted out and held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez of the FBI's Phoenix field office. “The FBI remains committed to tracking down those who attempt to hide their violent acts behind badges. We would like to thank our investigators and the Douglas Police Department for their support and assistance in this case.”

During a two-week trial, jurors heard evidence that on the morning of April 25, 2022, Mitchell traveled to Douglas, Arizona, where he kidnapped a 15-year-old middle school girl, held her captive, drove her to his apartment, and sexually assaulted her.

According to evidence presented at trial, Mitchell found the child waiting for school to start, identified himself as a police officer and demanded her papers. He then showed his police ID and badge, ordered the child to get in his car and stated he was going to take her to the police station. Instead, Mitchell drove the child miles from his school, stopped and handcuffed her hands and feet with two pairs of handcuffs. The victim testified that after she handcuffed him, the defendant ordered her to do whatever he said because he did not want to hurt her.

After forcing the victim to go to his residence, the defendant repeatedly sexually assaulted her for several hours. Mitchell eventually returned the victim to the area of ​​the middle school where he had abducted her that morning and warned her not to tell anyone. The victim immediately reported the abduction and sexual assault to her friends, family members, and multiple law enforcement agencies. During an interview with police, the defendant exclaimed that the victim “better hope I don't get out of here.”

An examination of the defendant's cell phone revealed that he had done a lot of research on the subject of rape and how to stop someone from screaming. While he was keeping the child captive in his apartment, he also conducted an internet search on how long it takes to suffocate someone.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Mitchell faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine the sentence, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.