Former border agent indicted in sexual assault, kidnapping of Arizona minor

PHOENIX — A former border patrol agent in Arizona was indicted Wednesday on charges of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a minor in April, federal authorities said.

Aaron Mitchell, 27, faces multiple charges including misleading state investigations, the Department of Justice said in a press release.

The indictment states Mitchell, who was a Customs and Border Protection agent at the time, kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old referred to only by initials.

Court documents show Mitchell was arrested in April after he allegedly kidnapped the girl in Douglas and took her to Sierra Vista before the alleged sexual assault.

According to Douglas police, Mitchell approached the victim in his vehicle as the girl was on her way to school.

The girl told investigators that Mitchell was wearing a tactical vest labeled “POLICE” and asked her for documentation, which she provided.

After checking her paperwork, Mitchell allegedly told the girl he would drive her to the Douglas police station.

Police say Mitchell is accused of driving the girl to an apartment complex in Sierra Vista and allegedly sexually assaulting her before taking her back to Douglas.

Mitchell was later booked into the Cochise County Jail on suspicion of sexual misconduct with a minor.

He then allegedly made misleading comments about his conduct related to the incident.

If convicted, Mitchell faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a minimum of 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

The Associated Press contributed to the report

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