Arizona man indicted for decades-old sex crimes

PHOENIX - A man accused of committing sex crimes decades ago in the Valley has been indicted by a grand jury.

On April 9, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced the indictment of 45-year-old Dat Vu in connection to the crimes, which happened in Phoenix and Glendale between 2000 and 2005.

MCAO says four victims were between the ages of 13 and 17 when the crimes were committed. During two incidents, Vu allegedly threatened victims with a gun.

What they're saying:

Vu was identified as the suspect through DNA testing. The testing was paid for by Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grants, MCAO said.

"SAKI grants help us take a crucial step toward closure by providing the resources necessary to process sexual assault kits," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. "It’s not only about solving these cases but restoring hope and giving victims the long-overdue justice they deserve."

Vu is accused of sexual assault, sexual conduct with a minor, kidnapping, attempt to commit sexual conduct with a minor and sexual abuse.

"Giving them that finality, that this is who did it, we are holding them accountable, there is nothing like that," Mitchell said.

Dat Vu (Arizona Department of Corrections)

Dig deeper:

Court paperwork describes Vu as inviting some of the victims on dates, and meeting one of them online.

That’s when investigators believe he sexually abused them. Documents also allege he tied up a 13-year-old victim in an abandoned building.

"These are cases where detectives were like, ‘This might actually yield something, I’m going to get it tested,’ but we just didn’t have the technology, or they just didn’t test enough," Mitchell said.

Mitchell says grants like this one will continue to help child sex offense victims get long-overdue justice.

"We haven’t forgotten. We’re still here. We want to help you and we want to see justice for you," she said.