Man copies woman’s hotel key and sexually assaults her in her room, Michigan cops say

An Arizona man is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her Michigan hotel room then flying back home, authorities say.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said 36-year-old Joel Delavara made a copy of the victim’s room key at an Auburn Hills hotel Aug. 16. It’s unclear how he obtained her key to make the copy.

Delavara then trespassed into the woman’s room, where he sexually assaulted her, the prosecutor said. The victim reported the assault to law enforcement.

Prosecutors said Delavara, of Yuma, “abruptly” flew back to Arizona after the alleged encounter. He had been in Michigan for a work conference, investigators said.

The prosecutor’s office announced Sept. 9 Delavara had been arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct and home invasion.

Delavara faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is due in court Sept. 19.

“The impact of rape on a victim and our community is immense,” McDonald said in a statement. “This case will be handled by my office’s Special Victims Unit (SVU), which is dedicated to prosecuting violent sex offenders and getting justice for victims. We will hold perpetrators fully accountable under the law.”

Auburn Hills is about a 35-mile drive northwest from downtown Detroit.

This story was originally published September 11, 2024 at 8:59 AM with the headline "Man copies woman’s hotel key and sexually assaults her in her room, Michigan cops say."