After two days of deliberation, a Tucson jury found a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer guilty on two counts for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Douglas, Ariz., in 2022.
Aaron Thomas Mitchell, 29, abducted the girl as she was walking to school in Douglas on April 26, 2022. Douglas police officials said Mitchell approached the girl in a red vehicle, and “identified himself as a law enforcement officer.”
Mitchell was an employee with the Office of Field Operations — a part of CBP responsible for the nation’s border crossings — and was assigned to the Port of Douglas border crossing. That afternoon, he was wearing his tactical vest labeled “Police.”
The Tucson Sentinel reported his arrest just days after the incident.
After a two-week trial in front of U.S. District Judge Rosemary Márquez, the jury found Mitchell guilty on Friday afternoon of both a federal civil rights offense and a kidnapping charge for sexually assaulting and kidnapping a victim who was a minor. The jury also found that the defendant’s conduct included aggravated sexual abuse, kidnapping and resulted in bodily injury, Justice Department officials said.
“The heinous crimes committed against a young middle school student by an individual sworn to uphold the law are unspeakable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
“This defendant had a duty to protect his community but instead he abused his power, kidnapped, cuffed and restrained a young girl, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her in his apartment for hours,” Clarke said.
“With this verdict, the jury has done us all a great service by holding accountable this former federal law enforcement official. The Justice Department will continue to stand up for sexual assault victims, especially children, and we will prosecute law enforcement officials who break the law with every tool at our disposal,” Clarke said.
Officials said Mitchell traveled to Douglas and abducted the middle school student. The girl told police at the time Mitchell asked her for immigration documentation. After looking at the documents, he said he would take her to the police department, restrained her, and put her in his vehicle, officials said.
However, instead of taking her to the nearby police station, Mitchell drove the girl miles away from her school, pulled over and restrained her hands and feet with two pairs of handcuffs. The victim testified that after he handcuffed her, he told her to do everything he said because he didn’t want to have to hurt her, officials said Friday. Mitchell then drove the girl to an apartment in Sierra Vista, where officials said he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of several hours. He then returned her to area near her middle school and “reminded her not to tell anyone,” Justice Department officials said.
The girl immediately reported the attack to her friends, family members and multiple law enforcement agencies. Douglas police officers, along with detectives with the Sierra Vista Police Department, found the apartment where Mitchell allegedly assaulted her and arrested Mitchell.
During an interview with police, the defendant exclaimed that the victim “better hope I don’t get out of here.”
Justice Department officials said they found Mitchell used his phone to make numerous searches regarding rape, and how to stop someone from screaming. They also found while he had the child captive in his apartment, he searched for how long it takes to smother someone.
Mitchell face sentencing on Nov. 20, and he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, Justice Department officials said.
“We count on our law enforcement officers to protect children,
schools and communities,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
Gary Restaino. “This defendant dishonored his badge and his colleagues
by ignoring his oath and harming the most vulnerable among us. Thanks to
the Douglas Police Department and the FBI for investigating this case
with dedication and compassion, and for vindicating the rights of a
courageous victim.”
“Mitchell not only broke his oath, but the
trust instilled in him as a law enforcement officer. Public servants,
particularly in law enforcement, must be held to the highest of ethical
standards. Those falling short must be rooted out and firmly held
accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez of the FBI
Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to uncovering those who
attempt to hide their acts of violence behind the badge. We would like
to thank our investigators and the Douglas Police Department for their
support and assistance in this case.”
The Douglas Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office, Sierra Vista Resident Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carin Duryee for the District of Arizona and MarLa Duncan, with the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.