Jul 20, 2023

Rape suspect captured at U.S. border crossing is in a Kansas jail

Posted Jul 20, 2023 4:50 PM
Vela photo Sedgwick County
Vela photo Sedgwick County

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an alleged rape from 2007 have transferred a suspect captured at the U.S. Mexico border to Kansas to face charges. 

Just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies booked 41-year-old Roman Vela into the Sedgwick County jail, according to online jail records. He is expected to make a first appearance in court Thursday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.

On April 28, the district attorney's office reported Vela was arrested at a border crossing between Mexico and Texas on an active Sedgwick County warrant  for one count of rape. He was  held in Webb County, Texas until the extradition to Kansas this week.

The arrest was the culmination of an ongoing effort between the Department of State in Mexico; Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Mexico; HSI Kansas City, Mo., and the Sedgwick County DA's Office in Wichita.