LINCOLN, Nebraska (KOLN) – The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a reported sexual assault at the Intake and Treatment Center last year.
A search warrant filed Tuesday reveals details of an ongoing investigation into a former inmate currently on parole. A patrol investigator received a call about a sexual assault at the center on October 7, 2023.
At the time, an inmate was on his way to Bryan West to be examined by a sex crimes nurse and to pick up a rape kit. Authorities later learned that the inmate had been sexually assaulted by his cellmate earlier in the day, the warrant states.
The victim was questioned and authorities learned that the inmate had repeatedly asked his cellmate to “have sex” with him. The victim refused several times, but the inmate then brandished a knife disguised as a pen and threatened to kill him if he did not obey.
The inmate then sexually abused the victim, an investigator wrote. The victim reported the incident a few hours later when he felt safe enough.
The test kit was compared to DNA previously collected from the accused inmate, and a match was found months after the assault was reported. According to the warrant, the inmate is currently free on parole and living somewhere in central Nebraska.
Authorities hope to get the defendant to provide another DNA sample that can be compared to the test. The investigator said the man could be charged with first-degree sexual assault based on the results.
No charges had been filed against the defendant as of Thursday.
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