Grand jury indicts man on multiple felony sexual assault charges involving minors
Prosecutors said 45-year-old Dat Vu was indicted on the following:
Two counts of sexual assault.
Two counts of sexual conduct with a minor.
One count of kidnapping.
One count of attempt to commit sexual conduct with a minor.
One count of sexual abuse.
MCAO said Vu committed the crimes between 2000 and 2005 involving four victims between the ages of 13 and 17. The agency said Vu threatened victims with a gun during two of the incidents.
His next scheduled court hearing is on May 6 in Maricopa County Superior Court.
MCAO said investigators connected Vu to the assaults through DNA testing conducted with sexual assault kits funded by Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, or SAKI, grants.
The agency said it was awarded $6.3 million for SAKI grants between 2016 and 2021, along with an additional $2.5 million in December 2024 to go toward DNA testing in cold cases involving sexual assaults.
"SAKI grants help us take a crucial step toward closure by providing the resources necessary to process sexual assault kits,' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a written statement. 'It's not only about solving these cases but restoring hope and giving victims the long-overdue justice they deserve.'
Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@gannett.com or 480-341-9433. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DNA testing leads to indictment of Arizona man on multiple felony charges
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