Federal immigration authorities have lodged a detainer for a Haitian national facing multiple felony charges, including two counts of rape, after Salt Lake City Police arrested him for allegedly sexually assaulting two women in Utah. Moise Sainteran, who was paroled into the United States in September 2023, faces additional charges of object rape, aggravated sexual assault, and forcible sodomy.
Criminal Charges and Allegations
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Sainteran was arrested by Salt Lake City Police on August 1 after two different women accused him of sexual assault in his apartment. The first victim reported to police that after visiting several bars on the night of July 17, she returned to Sainteran's apartment in the early morning hours of July 18, where he sexually assaulted her.
A second victim stated she fell asleep in the apartment on August 1 and woke up to find Sainteran assaulting her, according to a Department of Homeland Security statement released August 4. Following the arrest, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer on August 2, requesting that the Salt Lake County Jail hold Sainteran in custody to facilitate his removal from the country.
Immigration Status and Parole
Sainteran's legal status became a point of contention following the arrest. He was originally paroled into the country by the Biden Administration's Haitian humanitarian parole program in September 2023, with authorization to remain in the U.S. until June 2025. He had also been granted employment authorization in December 2023.
However, the Trump Administration terminated the Haiti parole program on April 24, 2025, leaving Sainteran in the United States illegally. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that ICE is requesting officials in Salt Lake County not release the suspect from jail so he can be transferred into ICE custody for deportation.
Police Reporting and Resources
The Salt Lake City Police Department maintains a dedicated unit to investigate sexual assaults, working alongside victim advocates to provide trauma-informed care. The department provides an anonymous online reporting portal to help survivors share experiences and access resources without immediately triggering a criminal investigation.
According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, survivors who report a crime within 144 hoursor six daysmay be able to preserve critical physical evidence. This evidence can be collected by sexual assault nurse examiners at any hospital in the Salt Lake Valley through Sexual Assault Forensic Examination kits, also known as Code R kits.
Survivor Rights and Protections
The Salt Lake City Police Department noted that reporting sexual violence is a deeply personal decision often complicated by fears of retaliation, revictimization, or concerns regarding how a case will be handled. To support survivors, the Salt Lake City Corporation provides a 24/7 hotline and resources through the Rape Recovery Center.
Under Utah law, survivors have the right to request that a forensic kit be 'restricted,' meaning the nurse is required to share the patient's name, address, and extent of injuries with law enforcement, but cannot provide any other information about the assault. Survivors can also opt for a 'non-interview' examination if they wish to speak with law enforcement at a later time rather than during the medical exam.
Prosecutorial Context
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, led by Sim Gill, is responsible for the prosecution of all felony criminal matters within the county. Gill, who was elected in November 2010, has focused on therapeutic justice and community-oriented approaches to problem-solving.
While the District Attorney's Office serves as the largest criminal prosecutorial agency in Utah, with 226 deputy district attorneys, paralegals, and investigators, the specific details regarding the upcoming prosecution of Sainteran's felony counts remain subject to the standard judicial process through the district court system.
Legal Proceedings
As of August 2026, the case remains active within the Utah court system. Public case information, including assigned judges and attorney details, is managed through the Xchange repository, which tracks criminal and civil matters filed in district and justice courts.
