SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- A Hampden County judge has allowed a West Springfield man facing rape and kidnapping charges to be released on $5,000 bail, prompting criticism from Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.
Mihail Lujan, 40, faces new charges stemming from an alleged incident on July 16, 2026. Prosecutors asked the court to keep him in custody before trial, arguing that his release posed a risk to public safety. The court denied the request following a hearing on October 6.
According to the district attorney’s office, prosecutors presented 18 exhibits in support of keeping Lujan in custody. The defense submitted no exhibits. The court allowed Lujan’s release under conditions set by the court.
Lujan was previously convicted in 2013 of sexually assaulting an elderly nursing home patient who had dementia and was unable to move or speak. At the time, Lujan worked as a janitor at the nursing home. He received a prison sentence of 10 to 12 years.
The conviction was overturned in December 2025 following a legal challenge involving a change in the rules for using substitute expert testimony. The case returned to the trial stage, and prosecutors are continuing to pursue it.
In a statement issued October 13, Gulluni criticized the court’s decision, saying it failed to give enough weight to public safety and victims’ rights.
“Our prosecutors pursued every available legal avenue to keep this defendant detained,” Gulluni said. “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.”
Gulluni said his office would continue pursuing both cases and working to protect the public.
The new charges remain pending.
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