Michigan Sex Crime Attorneys Blog

In June, we wrote about Jamila Williams, a Grand Rapids public school teacher who allegedly engaged in sexual relations with two teenage boys. Recently, Williams was sentenced to between eight and 15 years in prison for having sex with the teenage students.

36-year-old Williams is now banned from having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16; she was suspended from her position at Grand Rapids University Prep Academy, where she had been a math teacher.

In September, the defendant pleaded no contest to four counts of criminal sexual conduct with the teens. In exchange for her plea, three additional charges were dropped by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office. While Williams apologized, saying that she broke the trust of the students she was dedicated to helping make successful, Judge Paul Sullivan called the harm the defendant had brought to students, the victims’ families, and the school “incalculable.”

Grand Rapids Police claimed in court that Williams engaged in sexual activity with the four boys at various locations, including a one of the victim’s homes, a car, an alley, and at a Golden Corral Restaurant. A mother of one of the victims claimed that Williams had sexual relations with her teenage son during school hours inside a locked classroom.

At her sentencing, Williams stated that she did not prey on the teens, and that she was not a predator.

Because Williams pleaded no contest to the charges, she may petition the Michigan appeals court to hear her case, but does not have the automatic right as an individual would if he or she were found guilty at trial. News articles indicate that Williams will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

In the state of Michigan, crimes involving sexual assault, rape, child pornography, or other offenses of a sexual nature are taken very seriously. Those convicted are punished harshly, often spending years or even life behind bars depending on the circumstances. However, there are many innocent people who face life-changing consequences for crimes they did not commit. While prison time is absolutely something no one wants to face, being placed on the Sex Offender Registry for life is perhaps even worse punishment.

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In March of this year, we wrote about a former Byron Center teacher and girls’ basketball coach who had been accused of sexual assault. Now, 42-year-old Glenn Robert Davis has been sentenced, his alleged victim pleading for the judge’s mercy in sentencing Davis.

On Thursday October 10, Davis was sentenced to between six and 30 years in prison by Kent County Circuit Court Judge Dennis Leiber. Davis pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in September, although he was initially charged with three counts of CSC.

The relationship between Davis and the teenage girl began as a friendship, and then developed into a sexual relationship according to a news article at Mlive.com. The defendant watched the girl as she spoke in the courtroom on Thursday, telling him that she still cared for him, and that she knew God has something special planned for Davis. The victim also wrote two letters pleading for the judge’s mercy when sentencing Davis, which Judge Leiber read.

The friendship began in September of 2012 when the teacher and basketball coach met the victim during her freshman year; she was a student in Davis’s math class. At some point, Davis and his student engaged in sexual activity at Davis’s home where he lived with his wife and two young children. The two allegedly had sex in a camper.

The victim wrote in the letters to Judge Leiber that Davis was an “amazing man,” and that he never hurt or pressured her, and was not a pedophile. She went on to say that she was fighting on his behalf, and that she loved and cared about the defendant “more than anything else in this world.”

Davis told the victim during the hearing that he had turned her world upside down, and betrayed her trust. He apologized to the girl’s family, and asked the judge for mercy. According to Davis, he is designing a program educating people about the law, appropriate relationships between teachers and students, and how media and the Internet have resulted in students who are maturing at a faster rate.

Had Davis not pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree CSC, he may have faced up to life in prison had he been convicted by a jury. Michigan sex crime defense attorneys understand the seriousness of these types of charges, and the harsh criminal penalties those accused face. In addition, those facing sexual assault accusations suffer for the rest of their lives, many required to register as sex offenders. Reputations and careers are often ruined.

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On September 13, 30-year-old Stephen Larkin was charged with three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old female student at West Bloomfield High School. Larkin teaches social studies and history at the school, and has been placed on administrative leave of absence.

The victim alleged that during a one-on-one tutoring session in a classroom at the high school, Larkin touched her inappropriately according to Lt. Tim Diamond of the West Bloomfield Police department.

A news article at the Detroit News states that the victim complained about the teacher with her parents at the school, then filed a report with police on May 31. Larkin pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges and was released on a $10,000 cash bond. He is also a girl’s golf coach at the high school. The court also ordered Larkin to wear a GPS tether.

On October 1 during a preliminary exam, prosecutors in the case requested that an additional charge of fourth-degree CSC be tacked on to Larkin’s charges; Judge Diane D’Agostini granted the request. The victim, according to court records, was the only person to testify at the hearing.

Each of the fourth-degree CSC charges is a two-year misdemeanor. Larkin is scheduled to appear for arraignment on October 14 at Oakland County Circuit Court before Judge Daniel P. O’Brien.

Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct leaves the accused facing penalties which include potential fines and up to two years in prison if convicted. While these penalties are not to be taken lightly, the impact otherwise on an individual’s life can be serious. In this case, not only may the teacher’s reputation be ruined, his career may suffer as well.

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Earlier this month, 46-year-old ex-Detroit police officer Geoffrey Townsend was found guilty by an Oakland County jury on six counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was accused of statutory rape after allegedly becoming involved with females who attended his “Reality Check Detroit,” a boot-camp type program for troubled teens. Now, Townsend has been sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison by Oakland County Circuit Judge Martha D. Anderson.

Townsend was convicted on five counts of CSC with a child between the ages of 13 and 15. According to a news article at CBS Detroit, Townsend alleged had sex with five girls who were involved in his boot-camp, but was only charged in relation with two of the victims. The defendant allegedly engaged in sexual activity with the girls beginning in October of 2010 and continuing through August 2012 at his home in Farmington Hills.

Prosecutors in the case presented Townsend as a “serial” predator who purposely targeted young teenage girls who were troubled. Tricia Dare, Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor, said that because people trusted the defendant, he was able to commit the crimes.

Townsend’s defense attorney questioned why the alleged victims waited so long to come forth with reports of the sexual assaults, and said that they were simply looking for money. Charges were filed against Townsend in April of this year; he promptly submitted his resignation from the Detroit Police Department.

As all Michigan sex crime defense attorneys know, being accused of statutory rape, whether convicted or not, can ruin an individual’s career and reputation. The criminal penalties are severe, as is evidenced in this case considering Townsend will spend the next 10 to 15 years behind bars.

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Earlier this month, Garry Donnell Jackson, a 52-year-old corrections officer who was employed at the Oakland County Jail, was suspended after an investigation revealed that the deputy allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a female inmate. Jackson, who lives in Rochester Hills, has been employed by the Sheriff’s office since 1997 and is now facing three felony charges of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

According to a news article at CBS Detroit, Jackson and the female inmate engaged in sexual conduct on several occasions in a broom closet. The female inmate allegedly involved in the rendezvous is 24 years old. Authorities learned of the activity when another inmate at the jail told a guard that she had heard rumors about the two engaging in an intimate relationship.

The sexual conduct was consensual according to the woman and other inmates who were interviewed according to Undersheriff Michael McCabe. Even though the female inmate consented to the sex acts, Michigan state law and department regulations make it illegal for an inmate and guard to engage in sexual relations.

McCabe said in the news report that, “The Sheriff’s Office abhors this conduct and has started the process to terminate Jackson.” He went on to say that Jackson’s conduct violates public trust, and dishonors the badge.

At his arraignment hearing on Monday, Jackson’s bond was set at $5,000. He was ordered to have no contact with the female inmate, who was incarcerated for probation violation and is due to be released from jail November 5. if convicted of the criminal sexual conduct charges, Jackson faces up to 15 years in prison.

As is evident in this case, accusations of inappropriate sexual conduct can result in not only criminal penalties, but ruin of an individual’s career and reputation. Even though the alleged victim consented to the relationship with the deputy, he may now spend 15 years of his life behind bars.

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On Friday September 13, trial began in the case of William Meni, a 44-year-old Gwinn man accused of criminal sexual conduct. According to a news article at Uppermichiganssource.com, Meni faces eight charges for the alleged sexual assault of three victims younger than 13 years old.

The alleged sexual assaults took place in 1995-1996, 2007-2008, and 2012 according to police. One victim was five years old, another seven years old when the sexual assault occurred, according to Prosecuting Attorney Matt Wiese. The third victim, who was six years old in 1995 when she was allegedly assaulted, is now married and expecting her second child.

The details of the alleged sexual assaults are explicit, and involve oral sex, forcing the victims to watch pornographic films, and penetration. Meni also allegedly made comments to one of the victims about her breasts getting larger. In one case, the mother of the victim walked in on her daughter, who was five at the time, with Meni. The defendant’s defense attorney opened with a statement claiming that there is an absolute “presumption of innocence.” He urged the jury not to rush to judgment, explaining that the prosecutor must prove his client’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. He also told jurors to carefully scrutinize why the allegations are just now coming to light.

In the case of the victim who was allegedly assaulted in 1995 and 1996, no information was revealed to family members for more than five years; at that point, no one came forward to authorities until a year later. Meni’s lawyer said that when there is a rape of a child who is six or seven years old, there would be “something.” However, he went on to say that nothing was reported until 2002, a year after the alleged victim had told family members.

First-degree criminal sexual conduct leaves an accused individual facing 25 years to life in prison. Michigan sex crime attorneys realize that if convicted on all eight counts, the defendant in this case will likely spend a substantial portion of the remainder of his life behind bars.

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In April of this year, a former White Cloud high school teacher and football coach was arrested and charged with five counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a high-court misdemeanor. A news article at Mlive.com reveals that Ethan Christopher Wendell is expected to submit a formal letter of resignation to the school.

The allegations against Wendell involve incidents which occurred this year at White Cloud High School, and in October of 2010. In exchange for his guilty plea to two of the CSC counts submitted in Newaygo Circuit Clerk on August 27, three of the counts will be dropped by prosecutors, according to court records. Wendell also agreed in the plea deal to surrender his teaching certificate.

Charges were filed after the high school coach and teacher was accused of touching and kissing two females at the school. As soon as the district learned of the charges against Wendell, he was placed on administrative leave according to Barry Seabrook, Superintendent of White Cloud Public Schools. Wendell, who is 37 years old, was arrested on July 22; he is expected to be sentenced on November 4.

The maximum sentence for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is two years; according to the article, Wendell’s maximum sentence will include less than one year in jail, a condition of his plea agreement.

Michigan sex offender defense attorneys realize that while less than one year in jail may not seem very harsh punishment, the damage to the accused individual’s life, reputation, and career is perhaps a more serious consequence. Wendell will surrender his teaching certificate, which means his career as a coach and teacher is over.

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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.

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