Man Accused of Sexual Assault on Car-Free Mackinac Island
A 30-year-old Mexican national faces charges after an alleged attack on the tourist-popular island where vehicles are banned.
A man has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman who was walking alone on Michigan's Mackinac Island, a car-free tourist destination known for its tranquility.
Carlos Adrian Fernandez De Lara Jaimez, 30, of Mexico, was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with personal injury. He allegedly attacked the woman shortly after 2 a.m. on September 16, forcing her to the ground before fleeing on foot, according to the Mackinac Island Police Department.
The victim was transported to the Mackinac Island Medical Center for treatment. Police identified a suspect later the same day, leading to Fernandez De Lara Jaimez's arrest and transfer to the Mackinac County Jail.
He was arraigned in 92nd District Court, where Judge Beth Gibson set his bond at $100,000. The Mackinac County Prosecutor’s Office formally charged him on September 18.
The incident has disrupted the sense of safety on the island, which prohibits most motor vehicles. Visitors and residents typically travel by bicycle, horse-drawn carriage, or on foot. Mackinac Island was recognized as the nation's No. 1 Best Summer Travel Destination in USA Today's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards. It also serves as the summer residence for the Governor of Michigan.
Mackinac Island, measuring 3.8 square miles, is celebrated for its historic architecture, old-fashioned atmosphere, and extensive trail systems in addition to its streets. The island's tourism bureau describes its pace of life as dictated by the rhythm of horse-drawn carriages, with bicycle bells replacing the sounds of traffic.