TEMPE, AZ — James Estep, the man who is at the center of an investigation by Mesa police, was taken into custody Wednesday night.
Tempe police announced Estep, 32, was taken into custody on new charges of kidnapping and sexual assault. He’s accused of raping another person, the sixth alleged victim in three months.
According to police documents, Estep is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in his vehicle on Tuesday night.
Police say Estep took the girl’s phone and told the girl to get out of his car, allowing her to run away.
Police say the victim was offered a ride at a light rail platform and she got into the man’s vehicle because she was scared. She said she was reportedly strangled during the attack. She suffered obvious signs of injury to her face, eyes, neck, and head.
Evidence traced Estep to the locations and times given by the teenage victim.
Police say Estep barricaded himself in his attic and was non-compliant before being taken into police custody Wednesday night.
ABC15 has been following Mesa's investigation into Estep and his alleged connection to multiple rape cases.
Estep was first arrested in May 2021, and two other times this year.
Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO) had dropped charges against him, allowing for his release in July. The case was sent back to Mesa police for further investigation.
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell defended her decision to dismiss the charges, again, on Thursday following Estep’s recent arrest. She said they didn’t have enough evidence to prove the case and was in direct communication with Mesa police about the ongoing investigation.
“We had concerns that we needed additional information. I agreed with those concerns,” Mitchell said. “We have one chance to get this right.”
Former prosecutor and defense attorney Josh Kolsrud, who is familiar with the reports in the other cases, questioned back in July why the county attorney allowed Estep to be released. On Thursday, he again said he believed there was enough evidence including DNA from multiple victims.
“It’s ridiculous, how many more women need to be raped before the county attorney decides to do something in this case,” he said.
“These are horrible crimes, and my heart goes out to everybody involved in this, but that doesn’t change my ethical responsibilities,” Mitchell said.
Mesa Police have been involved in the previous cases involving Estep.
