A man arrested in Kentucky last week, who was wanted by the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) for the December 31 sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl, is not a U.S. citizen and has a lengthy criminal history in Davidson County, records show.
Last week, 31-year old Mena Awad was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky, at a hotel after charges were filed against him earlier in the week for aggravated rape, aggravated assault, and aggravated burglary stemming from the December 31 incident at a Millwood Drive apartment.
MNPD said Awad (pictured above) is alleged to have entered the 16-year-old victim’s unlocked apartment at 7 a.m. and assaulted the teen in her bedroom.
The victim told police that the man who assaulted her, whom she did not know, was reportedly armed with a gun and a knife at the time of the attack.
MNPD said detectives were able to identify Awad, who is believed to be homeless, as a suspect after reviewing footage from surveillance cameras in the area.
Records from Awad’s arrest in Kentucky show that the 31-year-old does not hold U.S. citizenship. His full name is listed as Mena Mohsen Farez Awad.
Court records show Awad has repeatedly cycled through the Davidson County criminal court system over the past several years, facing charges ranging from felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and multiple domestic assault allegations to a later misdemeanor domestic assault conviction, with some of the most serious cases ultimately dismissed and others resulting in guilty findings.
In March 2018, Awad faced a felony charge of aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon. The case was presided over by Judge Samuel Coleman and dismissed on June 14, 2018. No penalties, probation, or jail time resulted from the charge.
Two years later, in December 2020, Awad was found guilty of a misdemeanor domestic assault charge. The case was heard by Judge Gale Robinson, who assessed $430.50 in court costs. No incarceration, probation, or restitution was ordered.
In 2022, Awad faced four traffic-related misdemeanor charges. All four cases were heard by Judge Ana L. Escobar and resolved on September 5, 2023, with guilty pleas. The convictions included improper passenger, driving without a license, seat belt violation, and failure to provide proof of insurance. Combined fines and court costs totaled $596.80, with no jail time, probation, or restitution imposed.
MNPD said Awad’s return to Nashville to face the charges of aggravated rape, aggravated assault, and aggravated burglary from last month’s incident is pending.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
