Sex Crimes

August 29, 2013

First Degree CSC Charges Against Children’s Center Manager Dismissed

In December of 2010, Martin E. Court, who was 47 years old, was charged with six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. Court was a manager at a Flint facility for severely abused and neglected children between five and 17 years old, the Whaley Children’s Center. Prosecutors claimed Court sexually assaulted the young teenage girl repeatedly; the girl lived at Whaley at the time.

On Thursday August 22, prosecutors in the case dismissed the charges against court after the alleged victim did not show up for trial. Court, who is now 49 years old, would potentially have faced life in prison if convicted of the charges. According to Jeffrey M. Day, Court’s attorney, his client has maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, and is happy the case against him was dismissed.

An investigation which began after Whaley officials notified the Department of Human Services and the prosecutor’s office in 2010 revealed the alleged sexual assaults took place during the latter part of 2009 and early 2010. Kevin Roach, President and CEO at Whaley, said that Court resigned his position at the institution in June of 2010.

The criminal sexual conduct charges against Court were dismissed without prejudice, which means that the prosecutor’s office could reissue the charges at a later time. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said in a news article at Mlive.com that the case is under review. As of this date, the charges have not been reissued.

Michigan sexual assault defense lawyers know that this is highly unusual; it is likely that Court would have spent a substantial number of years or even life behind bars had he been convicted. Sex crimes, particularly those against children, are punished severely in the state of Michigan.

Time will tell if the charges are reissued against Court. If so, the defense will no doubt use the fact that the victim failed to show up for the first trial as part of their strategy.

August 28, 2013

Muskegon County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Porn

by Scott Grabel

On Monday August 26, 50-year-old Michael John Larson was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for child pornography distribution. Larson, who is a registered sex offender previously convicted on sex-related charges involving a child, allegedly distributed child pornography on the Internet.

In April of this year, Larson pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography; federal court records indicate that a second count of possessing child porn was dismissed by the U.S. Attorney’s office in exchange for Larson’s guilty plea. Following a federal investigation involving child pornography occurring via peer-to-peer Internet file sharing, Larson was arrested in October of last year. On Monday, District Judge Robert Holmes Bell sentenced Larson to 15 years in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.

Authorities found sexual images of children on Larson’s home computer after executing a search warrant; this followed the discovery of sexual images of prepubescent girls by a Grand Rapids based Homeland Security Investigations agent on a computer linked to the defendant. After pleading guilty to child pornography distribution in April, Larson has been lodged in the Newaygo County Jail. He is scheduled to be assigned to a federal penitentiary now that he has been sentenced.

In 1996, Larson was convicted on a charge of second-degree CSC with a person younger than 13; he served time in state prison from 1996 until his discharge in September of 2003.

All Michigan child pornography lawyers know how serious these types of accusations are, and the consequences for those who are convicted of what many feel are the most ‘heinous’ sexual crimes that can be committed. When a sex crime allegedly involves young children, the punishment is extremely harsh. At the same time, it is often the case that individuals are falsely accused as children may be coerced by adults who have an “ax to grind” into saying things that simply are not true.

August 26, 2013

Former Eastern Michigan University Student Indicted on Charges of Child Pornography

by Scott Grabel

On Tuesday August 20, 18-year-old Jacob Snyder was indicted by a grand jury on one count each of possessing, distributing, and receiving child pornography according to federal court records. Snyder is a former student of Eastern Michigan University.

Federal authorities allegedly found numerous videos and pictures of children who were unclothed on Snyder’s computer; the children were said to be younger than 12 years old in a news article at AnnArbor.com.

Authorities executed a warrant at Snyder’s father’s home in Ypsilanti Township, locating the suspect’s Dell laptop. Officials believe Snyder obtained a portion of the child pornography from his father’s IP address where he lives in the 5800 block of Textile Road. An affidavit signed by United States Customs Service special agent Bradley Manning states that Snyder consented to having the computer searched.

In September of 2012, Snyder was interviewed at both his father’s residence, and in his EMU dormitory room. He was a freshman at the time of the interview, although the student directory indicates he is no longer enrolled at the university. Snyder admitted during interviews to using Limewire, Ares, and other peer-to-peer file sharing networks for “maintaining and trafficking child pornography” while accessing the Internet through the IP address subscribed to by his father.

Court records indicate Snyder admitted to having child pornography stored on additional hard drivers which were located in a storage locker. Records also reveal authorities located 171 videos and 47 images of children who were engaged in what was called a “lascivious” display of the pubic and genital areas.

Snyder’s preliminary exam was scheduled for Friday August 23; he is scheduled to go before Judge Denise Page Hood for a jury trial on October 1 in U.S. District Court.

As all Michigan child pornography lawyers are aware, many innocent individuals are behind bars today for sex offenses they did not commit. While the defendant in this case admitted to the crimes, the penalties will be harsh if convicted. Those who receive sexually explicit material intended for distribution or who distribute child sexually abusive material may face a fine of up to $50,000 along with up to 7 years in prison.

August 13, 2013

Kalamazoo Judge Hands Down 62-year Sentence in ‘Brutal’ Sexual Assault

by Scott Grabel

In January, three men allegedly broke into a woman’s Kalamazoo Township apartment committing home invasion, rape, and kidnapping. Now, 32-year-old Danny Paul Vinson has been found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and other charges. On Monday, Vinson was sentenced to 62 years in prison by Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge J. Richardson Johnson, who said the trial was “one of the hardest I’ve ever had to sit through” according to a news article at Mlive.com.

Two other men, 38-year-old LaFunta Summers and 21-year-old Curtis Hankton, were involved in the January 22 break-in at the victim’s home at Big Bend Apartments on Gull Road. Armed with a shotgun, the three men are accused of beating and sexually assaulting the woman during the home invasion, then dropping her off at a Watervliet hospital.

The news article states that Vinson used the barrel of a shotgun to sexually assault the victim, while holding a gun to her head. Diane Hungerford, Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor, said she had never encountered a more atrocious set of facts in her three decades as an assistant prosecutor. She went on to say that Vinson deserves to never get out of prison.

In addition to first-degree CSC, Vinson was also found guilty of first-degree home invasion, armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder, felony use of a firearm, and felon in possession of a firearm.

In sentencing the defendant, Johnson gave Vinson 35 to 75 years for first-degree CSC; he was sentenced as a fourth-time habitual offender. Sentencing for other charges will run concurrently with each other but consecutive to his CSC sentencing. Ultimately, Vinson will remain in prison for 62 years before he will be eligible for parole.

Penalties for sex-related offenses are extremely harsh in the state, a fact all Michigan sex crime attorneys are keenly aware of. When an individual is convicted as a habitual offender, the consequences are even more serious.

August 6, 2013

Lansing-area Doctor Sentenced to 7 to 16 Years for Sexual Assault of Patients

by Scott Grabel

On Wednesday July 31, 54-year-old Kassam Hallak was sentenced by Eaton County Circuit Court Judge Janice Cunningham to seven to 15 years in prison for sexual assault. Hallak, a physician at the Charlotte Medical Center and Urgent Care, has now lost his medical license. He was convicted in June for assaulting seven women, most of the assaults taking place a the clinic.

Jurors convicted Hallak on eight of 11 charges filed against him, including six counts of fourth-degree CSC, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct which reportedly involved a 12-year-old girl. One of the victims said that Hallak raped her in an examination room. Along with serving prison time, Hallak will be required to register as a sex offender and be electronically monitored for life.

Some of Hallak’s alleged victim’s spoke at his sentencing on Wednesday according to a news article at the Lansing State Journal. One woman stated that she had continued to work toward forgiveness, and that, “It is my time to heal and it is (Hallak’s) time to be punished.”

Hallak’s attorney, Elias Muawad, said that Hallak will appeal the suspension of his medical license. As he exited the courtroom, he briefly waved to his family. Kelly Morton, Eaton County Assistant Prosecutor, said that the result was satisfactory, and that the prosecution was glad Hallak would be held accountable and never practice medicine again.

Michigan sex crime lawyers know this is exactly the type of outcome that is all too common, and an example of what can happen when an individual is accused of sexual assault. Besides the typical penalties of jail/prison time and requirement to register as a sex offender, those who are convicted face a ruined reputation, and often a ruined career.

July 30, 2013

Flint Man Arrested for Human Trafficking, Police Suspect More Connections to Suspect Regarding Nationwide Prostitution Ring

by Scott Grabel

On Wednesday July 24, Donald L. Perkins was arraigned on numerous charges in connection with a nationwide prostitution sting including kidnapping and human trafficking. While Perkins is being held without bond, authorities now believe that there may have been more girls working for him than first believed. Investigations are ongoing according to Michigan State Police Detective Sergeant Ed Price of the Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children, an organization headed up by the FBI.

Perkins was one of four men arrested on July 21 for suspicion of kidnapping, operating a house used for prostitution, and pandering. Police investigated a home located on West Russell Avenue, and found a 20-year-old woman in the basement, along with two 17-year-old girls who were believed to have been sexually assaulted.

A campaign known as Operation Cross Country has been in force for a decade, and is conducted under the FBI’s Innocence Lost initiative. In their efforts to shut down a nationwide prostitution ring, authorities have arrested 150 pimps across the nation so far, 18 of them in the state of Michigan. Perkins was one of the 18 pimps in the state.

A news article at Mlive.com indicates that authorities believe Perkins invited teens to a party before taking them captive and forcing them to perform sex acts at various locations over a period of several days.

Perkins is being held without bond at the current time.

Michigan prostitution lawyers understand the seriousness of these types of crimes, and the harsh consequences individuals face if convicted of prostitution or solicitation.

July 17, 2013

Bay City Man Accepts Plea Agreement in Sexual Assault of Saginaw Girl

by Scott Grabel

On Monday July 15, David J. Zuriel Jr. pleaded no contest to three counts of third-degree CSC by force or coercion before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Robert L. Kaczmarek. Zuriel was initially charged by prosecutors with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against someone under the age of 13 in connection with the alleged assault of a young girl from August of 2006 through December 2008 in Saginaw. Prosecutors dropped these charges in exchange for Zuriel’s plea agreement.

In September of 2012 Zuriel attended a preliminary hearing in which prosecutors were successful in securing a ruling that probable cause was demonstrated which meant Zuriel would be tried in Circuit Court. The defendant, who is 33 years old, was jailed without bond at that time.

The original charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against Zuriel carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Due to the fact that the charges were reduced to third-degree CSC (which also involves penetration), the maximum penalty is 15 years in prison. However, the defendant did acknowledge his status as a second-time habitual offender, which means he could potentially spend 22 1/2 years in prison.

There is no sentence agreement; Zuriel is scheduled for sentencing on August 19 by Judge Kaczmarek.

For most Michigan sex crime lawyers who are truly dedicated, the primary focus is having the charges against their clients dismissed when possible. However, there are circumstances in which it may be advantageous to plead to a lesser charge, particularly when strong evidence exists and a conviction is likely. This can greatly reduce the number of years an individual will spend behind bars.

July 15, 2013

Clark Lake Man Sentenced to 14 to 30 Years for Rape of Young Girl

by Scott Grabel

On Thursday July 11, Jackson County Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson sentenced William Lindemeyer to 14 to 30 years in prison after the defendant pleaded no contest to third-degree criminal sexual conduct in May. Lindemeyer allegedly sexually assaulted a girl who was 9 years old at the time, forcing himself on the victim 20 to 40 times according to a news article at Mlive.com.

In June of 2012, Lindemeyer was charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, however prosecutors dropped the charges when the defendant pleaded no contest. Because of this, the alleged victim did not have to testify.

Apparently Lindemeyer lived with the young girl and her mother, who has since had her parental rights terminated. In April of 2012, a complaint was received by Children’s Protective Services regarding the alleged sexual assault.

News reports also claim that the young girl contracted the sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia, although Lindemeyer’s attorney argued that the disease was transmitted to the girl by someone else. Court records do indicate that a second man who is now in prison for CSC in a separate case also sexually assaulted the girl. An aunt is now in charge of caring for the girl and her 12-year-old brother.

The children’s father allegedly physically abused and tortured the children, losing parental rights long ago. Court records indicate that the girl’s mother was aware of the sexual abuse inflicted by Lindemeyer, but was afraid of him and therefore did not report the abuse to law enforcement.

Michigan sex crime attorneys are fully aware that there are individuals who are literally monsters and who do horrible things to children. However, there are many cases in which innocent people are accused of doing unthinkable things to others, often charged with serious crimes they did not commit.

July 9, 2013

Oakland County Sheriff’s Officials Say Young Girl’s Story of Kidnapping, Rape, and Assault a Farce

by Scott Grabel

On June 26, Oakland County sheriff’s deputies responded to McLaren Hospital after a 14-year-old Pontiac girl claimed she had been abducted by two teen males and raped the night before. Now, sheriff’s officials believe the story was an elaborate lie.

The girl claimed that after being abducted by the teens, who were 15 years old, she was assaulted, raped, and held captive. The girl was allegedly walking in Pontiac near Rundell when the two boys allegedly “kidnapped” her and held her prisoner in a townhouse until the following morning. In a release issued on Monday July 8, sheriff’s officials said the shocking story turned out to be a farce. They went on to say that the alleged victim admitted that she knew both of the boys, and that she had sexual relations with them willingly. The girl apparently wanted to avoid getting into trouble with her mother because she had not come home the previous night, so she reported the fabricated story.

According to a news article at Mlive.com, police intend to seek a warrant so they may charge to girl with filing a false police report.

Michael McCabe, Oakland County Undersheriff, said on Monday that, “In Michigan, no one under the age of 16 can ‘consent’ to have sex and it is technically a violation of the Michigan (criminal sexual conduct) statutes.” In other words, even though the two 15-year-old young men and the 14-year-old girl agreed to have sex, their ages prevent them from consenting legally. Authorities intend to thoroughly review the case.

This situation is one of the worst nightmares for Michigan sex crime attorneys, and unfortunately it happens all too often. The two young men accused of kidnapping the victim, raping her, and holding hostage may very well be charged with criminal sexual conduct, even though the girl willingly had sex with them by her own admission. In Michigan, it is a criminal offense to have sexual relations with someone younger than 16 years old, regardless of consent. While juveniles are not usually charged with a crime, they may still be charged with a delinquency action and subject to harsh criminal penalties.

July 3, 2013

Registered Sex Offender Charged After Attempting to Lure Children at Park; Detained by Boys’ Parents

by Scott Grabel

Chad Eric Servis, a 42-year-old Wyoming resident, was recently charged with two counts of accosting children for immoral purposes as a repeat offender after allegedly attempting to get three boys who were under the age of 16 to go with him to a secluded area of Ideal Park. The boys were playing basketball on a court near the park when the incident took place.

According to a news article at Mlive.com, the boys did not go with Servis, but went and told their parents about Servis. At that point, the parents along with other family members went back to the park and located Servis, then detained the suspect until police arrived on the scene.

Wyoming police said that Servis had items in his possession which were sex related, including handcuffs, lubricant, a blindfold and other items. If convicted, Servis could spend up to 10 years in prison. Wyoming Police Officer Jonathan Durall said that the suspect admitted that he was sexually attracted to young boys.

The incident occurred on June 29 at approximately 7 p.m. Servis was arraigned on Monday July 1 in Wyoming District Court, and is being held on a $100,000 bond in the Kent County Jail. A probable cause hearing has been scheduled for July 10.

Michigan sex crime attorneys know that in situations such as this one, the suspect will likely face more severe penalties than usual because of the fact he is a repeat sexual offender. Sex offenses are punished severely in the state of Michigan, particularly those involving minors. However, in cases where there is no hard physical evidence, it can also be a case of one person’s word against another, which means many innocent people sit behind bars today for crimes they did not commit.