FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

DATE: April 26, 2024

Salem man arrested in child sex abuse case

Salem, Ore. — A Salem man is in custody in Illinois on child sex abuse charges stemming from an incident earlier this month at a northeast Salem business.

Jason Patrick Mikel, age 28, was arrested Thursday, April 25, as part of an investigation into the sexual abuse of a small child at a variety store in the 2700 block of Lancaster DR NE on the evening of April 1, 2024.

The child’s mother reported that while shopping, she lost sight of her daughter and found the three-year-old in Mikel’s arms. The mother confronted the unknown suspect, who put the child down and fled the store. Through a forensic interview conducted by Liberty House, a child abuse assessment center, Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives learned the child had been harmed in the encounter.

Investigators identified Mikel as the suspect and presented their findings to a Marion County Grand Jury on April 19. Mikel was indicted on the following charges:

• Attempted unlawful sexual penetration, first-degree
• Sex abuse, first-degree
• Attempted kidnapping, first-degree

Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined Mikel fled Oregon to the village of Minooka, a small suburb of Chicago, Illinois. With assistance from the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office Proactive Unit, and the Minooka Police and Channahon Police Departments, Mikel was arrested without incident. He is currently lodged at the Grundy County Jail and awaits extradition to Oregon.

Salem Police thanks the FBI, the deputies of the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, and the police officers from the communities of Minooka and Channahon for their assistance in apprehending Mikel. 

Gratitude is also extended to the staff of Liberty House. The organization is an essential partner in law enforcement’s work to investigate and bring justice to the most vulnerable of our community. We invite residents to learn more about the organization’s work and resources.

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