Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel Announces Conviction of Fugitive Sexual Assault Offender in Northern Michigan Case

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday that a 50-year-old Louisiana man pled no contest to three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving three minors in Osceola County.

Jason Kushmaul, of Oakdale, Louisiana, sexually assaulted the victims under the age of 13 between 2002 and 2008 while living in Northern Michigan. Kushmaul was initially charged in 2016 after the victims reported the assaults, but he had already left the state.

In February, Kushmaul was extradited to Osceola County and arraigned as part of Operation Survivor Justice, a partnership between the Michigan Department of Attorney General, local county prosecutors and the U.S. Marshals Service to locate, apprehend and return to Michigan fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants.

"Fugitives who attempt to evade accountability not only delay closure for survivors, but they make communities less safe," Nessel said. "I am proud of the work of prosecutors in my office and our Operation Survivor Justice partners who worked to bring justice to the victims in this case."

Judge Amy Clapp of the 49th Circuit Court will sentence Kushmaul at 9 a.m. on May 15 in Osceola County.

Operation Survivor Justice is a collaborative effort designed to track down fugitives who have outstanding sexual assault warrants and bring them back to face justice. The program partners the Michigan Department of Attorney General with local prosecutors and federal law enforcement to identify fugitive offenders, coordinate extradition efforts, and ensure victims receive the closure they deserve.

The three victims, all under 13, reported the assaults in 2016. Kushmaul had already left the state at that time, making the investigation challenging. The case was eventually reopened and led to the warrant that has now been successfully executed through Operation Survivor Justice.

"This case demonstrates the importance of persistence in protecting vulnerable residents," said Nessel. "Our commitment to Operation Survivor Justice ensures that even when fugitives think they have evaded accountability, we find a way to bring them back to face the consequences of their actions."

The program has become a model for other states, with law enforcement agencies nationwide seeking partnerships to replicate its success in tracking down sexual assault fugitives.