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In July 2021, Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Lionel Jarvon Wells, 43, (DOB: 08/10/1979), of Detroit, in connection with five sexual assaults of young Detroit women. On August 1, 2022, Wells pled guilty to the five cases. Today Judge Bridget Hathaway gave Defendant Lionel Wells concurrent sentences of 25 to 50 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections on the five cases. These cases have been prosecuted by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office Sexual Assault Kit Task Force.

Wells sexually assaulted the women from 2007 until 2014. In each of the cases the sexual assault kits were uploaded in to the CODIS database, initially resulting in case-to-case associations.

In 2019, DNA was submitted to Parabon Nanolabs for DNA and genetic genealogy analysis. Based upon the testing, a list of related male suspects was created. One of the suspects was the defendant. A search warrant was obtained for Well's buccal swab DNA sample and submitted for comparison to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab. After a complete DNA analysis, the known DNA buccal swab of Wells was confirmed to match all five of the sexual assault kits for the five cases. The Detroit Police Department arrested the defendant on July 26, 2021.

Summary of the Sexual Assault Cases

Case 21-007131-01- FC

On February 7, 2007, at 9:00 p.m. a then 17-year-old female victim was walking on the westside of Detroit when she was approached by a male stranger who asked her for the time and pushed an object into her back. She was forced to walk behind a garage where she was sexually assaulted and robbed of her personal belongings. She was told to count to 100 as the assailant fled from the scene. A sexual assault kit was submitted to the crime lab and the then unknown male DNA profile was loaded into CODIS. On August 1, 2022, Wells pled guilty to one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree.

Case 21-007310-01-FC

On October 24, 2014, at approximately 10:15 p.m., a then 17-year-old female was walking home from work on the eastside of Detroit when she was approached by a male stranger who passed her and asked for her phone number. He then turned around and produced a handgun and ordered to go into a field behind a post office. He robbed and sexually assaulted the victim. He pointed a gun at her head and ordered her to get into the bushes and count to 100 as he fled. A sexual assault kit was submitted to the crime lab and the then unknown male DNA profile was loaded into CODIS. On August 1, 2022, Wells pled guilty to two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree, one count of Kidnapping, and one count of Armed Robbery.

Case Number 21-008129-01-FC

On March 3, 2011, at 9:30 p.m., a then 19-year-old victim was walking near her home when a male stranger put what she felt was a gun to her back and ordered to walk to a house with a detached garage. He told her he would shoot her if she ran or screamed. He sexually assaulted her by the garage. He told her to count to 100 and took her bag containing her personal belongings and fled on foot. A sexual assault kit was submitted to the crime lab and the then unknown male DNA profile was loaded into CODIS. On August 1, 2022, Wells pled guilty to three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree, one count of Kidnapping, and one count of Armed Robbery.

Case Number 22-001013-01-FC

On December 15, 2008, at 6:30 p.m., a then 17-year-old victim was walking on the westside of Detroit when a male stranger drove up in a car and asked for her phone number. He got out of his car and began to walk and talk to her when he grabbed her book bag, pushed something into her back and told her to keep walking. He threatened her not to run or scream and took her behind a shed where he sexually assaulted her. He told her to close her eyes and count to 100 as he fled on foot returning to his car. A sexual assault kit was submitted to the crime lab and the then unknown male DNA profile was loaded into CODIS. On August 1, 2022, Wells pled guilty to three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree and one count of Kidnapping.

Case Number 22-001014-01-FC

On January 29, 2007, at 7:30 p.m., a then 13-year-old victim was walking to school when a male stranger walked up to her to ask about the time. She continued to walk, and the man approached her from behind and pushed an object into her back and forced her to go into the garage of a vacant home where he sexually assaulted her. He went through her book bag pulling items out and then fled on foot. A sexual assault kit was submitted to the crime lab and the then unknown male DNA profile was loaded into CODIS. On August 1, 2022, Wells pled guilty to three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree and one count of Kidnapping,

Today Judge Bridget Hathaway gave Defendant Lionel Wells concurrent sentences of all five cases of 25 to 50 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections. He must register as a sex offender, have no contact with the survivors, and if released will be subject to life-time electronic monitoring.

"This sentencing is the result of a long process to bring justice to these then teenage survivors. This would not have possible without the extensive genetic genealogy process. It is my hope that since justice has prevailed today and that now they can find some semblance of peace. Justice and peace are the least that they deserve.

"August 14, 2022 was the 13-year anniversary that we have been doing this work. As of September 6, 2022, the Sexual Assault Kit Task Force has had 238 convictions. I am proud of the years of important work that we and all our collaborators have done in testing, investigating, and prosecuting Detroit's - and Michigan's - stockpiled sexual assault kits. We have consistently made sure that our approach has been victim centered, trauma informed, and offender focused. Our victim notification and investigative policies have enabled us to be successful.

"As a result of our work, Michigan has become a national model and there has been significant change in Michigan as well. Our work continues and it is important to acknowledge that none of this would have been possible without the support of the Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans, the Wayne County Commission, the Michigan Women Forward, the Joyful Heart Foundation, and the African American 490 Group who remain the core members of our public and private partnership," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

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