October 13, 2026 – Springfield, Massachusetts – Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni is expressing his dismay and serious concern following a court decision denying the Commonwealth’s request to detain Mihail Lujan, a defendant facing new charges of rape and kidnapping who was previously convicted of raping an elderly nursing home patient.
The new allegations stem from an incident on July 16, 2026.
Lujan, 40, of West Springfield, was previously convicted in 2013 in connection with the sexual assault of an elderly, non-mobile, and non-verbal patient suffering from dementia at a nursing home where he had worked as a janitor. The conviction, which resulted in a 10- to 12-year prison sentence, was overturned in December 2025 following a legal challenge involving a technical change in the law regarding the use of substitute expert testimony. That case was returned to the trial stage and the Commonwealth continues to pursue that case.
In response to the new allegations, prosecutors filed a motion seeking Lujan’s pretrial detention under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, Section 58A, as well as a motion to revoke bail in the earlier case.
Following initial proceedings in September, a dangerousness hearing was held on October 6, 2026. During that hearing, the Commonwealth presented 18 exhibits in support of its request for detention. The defense submitted no exhibits.
Despite the Commonwealth’s arguments, the court denied the request for detention. Lujan was permitted to be released on $5,000 bail, subject to court-imposed conditions.
Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni issued the following statement:
“This decision is deeply disturbing and represents the court’s failure to center public safety and the rights of victims. This case involves a defendant facing horrific allegations of rape and kidnapping who was previously convicted of sexually assaulting an elderly, defenseless nursing home patient. That conviction was overturned on a technical legal change, not because a court determined that the underlying assault did not occur.
“Our prosecutors pursued every available legal avenue to keep this defendant detained. We presented substantial evidence, including 18 exhibits, demonstrating why we believed his release would pose an unacceptable risk to the community. Nevertheless, the court denied our request.
“The consequences of decisions like this extend far beyond the courtroom. Victims of sexual violence deserve to know that when they have the courage to come forward, their safety and the safety of others will be treated with the utmost seriousness. Our community deserves that same assurance.
“We respect the independence of the judiciary, but that does not mean we will remain silent when a decision raises such profound concerns about public safety. I strongly disagree with this outcome, and I believe the public deserves to understand why. Our office will continue to pursue these cases aggressively, stand with victims, and do everything within our authority to protect the people of Hampden County.”
The new criminal charges remain pending, and Lujan is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
