Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 21-year-old Daquawn D. Mike of Niagara Falls was arraigned yesterday morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on a 14-count indictment for allegedly committing a series of violent attacks on three women where he forcibly raped the victims while armed with a weapon during separate incidents in 2017. The defendant was arraigned on the following offenses:

• Three counts of Rape in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felonies)
• Nine counts of Predatory Sexual Assault (Class “A-I” felonies)
• One count of Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony)
• One count of Robbery in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony)

The defendant is currently pending prosecution following an arrest earlier this year after he was allegedly found in possession of an illegal firearm. It is alleged that on January 29, 2021, at approximately 8:44 p.m., the defendant was sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle when Cheektowaga Police officers initiated a traffic stop after the driver failed to signal during a lane change on William Street near Charles Street. Officers allegedly smelled the odor of marijuana, which prompted a search of the vehicle. Officers allegedly found a loaded, illegal handgun under the front passenger seat.

The defendant was arraigned before Cheektowaga Town Court Justice James J. Speyer, Jr. on one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony) on January 30, 2021. He was released on $7,500 bail. When the defendant failed to appear for a felony hearing on February 3, 2021, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

US Marshals Service located the defendant in the Buffalo area on April 8, 2021. The defendant was taken into custody and held on a probation violation for a prior conviction in Niagara County.

The defendant was arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller on an indictment charging him with one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree on September 14, 2021. He was held without bail.

Prosecutors submitted the illegal weapon allegedly found in the possession of the defendant to the Erie Crime Analysis Center for testing. Forensic analysis allegedly linked the defendant to the illegal gun as well as three unsolved rape cases that occurred in the City of Buffalo.

It is alleged that on February 6, 2017, at approximately 9:50 p.m., the victim was walking in the area of Scajaquada and Kilhoffer Streets when she was attacked by the defendant. The defendant is accused of forcibly raping the female victim while pointing a gun at her head. The alleged sexual assault occurred during the commission of a robbery. The defendant is also accused of stealing the victim’s cell phone, pack of cigarettes and approximately $12 in cash after the rape. The victim reported the crime to police and underwent a rape kit at ECMC.

It is alleged that on February 21, 2017, at approximately 7:15 p.m., a second female victim was walking on Curtiss Street near Broadway when she was attacked by the defendant. The defendant is accused of dragging the victim to the side of a nearby garage where he forcibly raped her at knifepoint. The victim reported the crime to police and underwent a rape kit at ECMC.

It is further alleged that on July 3, 2017, at approximately 4:30 a.m., a third female victim was walking on Wick Street when she was approached by the defendant who lured her to nearby area alongside train tracks. The defendant allegedly pointed a gun at the victim’s head and forced her to engage in sexual conduct. The defendant is also accused of forcibly raping the victim at gunpoint. The defendant allegedly stole the victim’s cell phone during the attack. The victim reported the crime to police and underwent a rape kit at ECMC.

All of the alleged crimes are believed to be random attacks as the defendant was not known to any of the victims. 

Mike is scheduled to return on both indictments on Monday, November 22, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. He continues to remain held without bail.

If convicted of all charges, Mike faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.        

DA Flynn commends Detective Mark Costantino of the Buffalo Police Department Special Victims Unit for his work in the investigation as well as Niagara County Probation Officer Jake Hinton, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners at ECMC, Erie Crime Analysis Center, Central Police Services, Cheektowaga Police Department and US Marshals Service.

The sexual assault cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cathleen M. Roemer of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Unit. The gun case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lauren M. Creighton of the Felony Trials Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.