Kalamazoo Man Convicted in 2005 Sexual Assault

A 20-year-old Michigan man, Ethan R. Dekalita, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two girls after posing as a 14-year-old boy to gain access to their home. Dekalita, who has a history of sexual assault, was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal conduct and one count of accosting children for immoral purposes. Meanwhile, Shawn Darnell Robinson Hopkins, 39, was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for the 2005 rape of a 14-year-old girl, which he committed after giving her alcohol and marijuana. The case against Hopkins, identified through DNA evidence 17 years later, highlights the ongoing efforts of Michigan's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) to resolve cold cases. Both cases underscore the challenges of addressing sexual violence and the importance of supporting survivors in their pursuit of justice. Hopkins is set to be sentenced on February 5, 2025, as Dekalita awaits sentencing following his guilty plea.