STAR CITY, W.Va (WDTV) – A man who was arrested for a 2022 sexual assault in Monongalia County has been transported back to West Virginia after being on the run for nearly two years.
Antonio Mendez, 34, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman on the Caperton Rail Trail on September 20th of 2022, according to West Virginia State Police.
Mendez lied about his identity and evaded police for nearly two years. Police said he was arrested at a restaurant in St. Claire, Pennsylvania on Monday, August 26th.
Court documents that were recently released say Mendez and the woman agreed to meet near the Star City Park at approximately 10:30 p.m. on September 20th of 2022 and began walking down the trail toward Van Voorhis Road. They walked for about 10 to 15 minutes before Mendez suddenly shoved the victim off the side of the trail and forced her to have sex with him.
The victim told police she was able to fight him off and start back toward her vehicle, but Mendez began to follow her. Eventually, he left heading north back up the trail, court documents say.
Video surveillance of the area confirms the victim’s statements and shows the two walking together and then Mendez running back up the trail alone, police said.
The victim had a Sexual Assault Kit completed, and the results from the kit matched Mendez’s DNA, police said.
Mendez is charged with first-degree sexual assault and is currently in the North Central Regional Jail with bond set at $40,000.
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