11/09/2026
Former Mears Man Convicted of First-Degree CSC for Assaults Against Minor Relative
LANSING – Today, in the 51st Circuit Court in Oceana County, Jesuz Chapa, 64, formerly of Mears though more recently residing in Dallas, TX, pled no contest to three counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Chapa pled pursuant to a plea agreement by which he agreed to be sentenced to 15-30 years’ incarceration.
Jesuz Chapa repeatedly sexually assaulted a minor relative in their shared home between 2001 and 2004. At the time of the assaults, Chapa was aged 38-41 and the victim was 8-11 years old. The assaults were reported in 2007, and Chapa was charged criminally in 2008, though by that time Chapa had relocated to Texas.
In 2025, the Oceana County Prosecutor’s Office referred the case to the Department of Attorney General under Operation Survivor Justice. Michigan State Police investigated further and additional charges were filed by the Department of Attorney General late that year. Chapa was arrested in Dallas, TX in February 2026 and extradited to Michigan to face these charges in March.
“In my office, we prosecute with our victims and survivors at the center of our decision making, and I hope with this conviction we are able to provide a measure of justice and healing for someone who was only a young child when these crimes were committed against them,” said Attorney General Nessel. “I am thankful to our Operation Survivor Justice partners, the Oceana County Prosecutor’s Office, Michigan State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service for making today’s conviction possible.”
Operation Survivor Justice is 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.
Chapa will next appear in the 51st Circuit Court for sentencing on December 14th.
https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2026/11/09/former-mears-man-convicted-of-first-degree-csc-for-assaults-against-minor-relative
