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Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Jerrod Desean Allen, 29, of Southfield, in connection with the sexual assaults of two female victims that occurred in Detroit in 2003 and 2004. The cases were investigated and charged as a result of the National Institute of Justice - Detroit Rape Kit Project.*

On September 2, 2003, at approximately 5:00 a.m. in the area of Conner and Essex in Detroit, it is alleged that Allen hit a then-43-year-old female victim about the head, threatened her with a gun and sexually assaulted her. He has been charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct Third Degree (15 years).

On September 1, 2004, at approximately 3:00 a.m. at a location near Lakewood and Kercheval in Detroit, it is alleged that Allen pointed a gun at a then-59-year-old female victim and, when she attempted to run, he grabbed her and pulled off her pants and sexually assaulted her. Allen has been charged with one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree (Life of any term of years) and Aggravated Assault (one-year Misdemeanor).

"Today we are charging two more cases from 2003 and 2004 from the 11,303 untested rape kits found in the DPD warehouse annex. We will continue to work hard to bring justice to these victims," said Prosecutor Worthy.

Further details of the crimes will be revealed at the time of the preliminary examination. Allen was arraigned today and he received $100,000 cash/surety bond on each case. His preliminary examination is scheduled for February 28, 2013. Please contact the police for a photograph of the defendant.

*National Institute of Justice -Detroit Rape Kit Project

During a tour of a Detroit Police storage facility in 2009, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office discovered more than 11,000 untested rape kits dating back nearly twenty-five years. Each of those kits represents a woman, man or child who suffered a violent assault and underwent a lengthy and physically invasive evidentiary collection procedure in an effort to apprehend his or her assailant. Each rape kit has the potential to solve multiple crimes.

In April of 2011, the National Institute of Justice awarded federal funds for an action research project. The collaborative partners on the grant are: the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, the Detroit Police Department, the Michigan State Police Crime Lab, Michigan State University, the Michigan Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention and Treatment Board, the Wayne County Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners, YWCA Interim House, the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan and the Joyful Heart Foundation.

The purpose of the project is to understand the underlying nature of the problem and to identify effective and sustainable solutions that can be shared with other cities also dealing with large quantities of untested rape kits. Through this research project, best-practice protocols will be developed for the nation regarding such matters as: when evidence in alleged sexual assaults is sent to the crime lab for analysis; testing procedures; follow-up police investigations; prosecutions and the crucial component of victim support and justice.

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