Brighton Twp. teen who faced 20 sex assault charges agrees to plea deal

A Brighton Township teen who on Thursday formally admitted guilt to one of the 13 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct he had faced will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

The teen, 16, had faced 31 felony charges in connection with the reported sexual assaults of three young teen girls, one under the age of 13, over approximately the past year-and-a-half in Livingston County.

Because he was facing charges in juvenile court, the Livingston Daily is not identifying the teen.

More: Brighton Twp. teen faces 31 felonies in sex assault case

In a deal worked out between his attorney and the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office, the teen pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of accosting a minor for immoral purposes, and four counts of possession of child sexually explicit material.

Prosecutors originally charged him with 13 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, seven counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of home invasion, one count of gross indecency, all felonies; and one count of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor. He had also faced nine felony counts of possession of child sexually abusive material, in connection to four other alleged victims.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors added two charges, accosting a minor for immoral purposes and one of the three possession of child sexually explicit material charges.

He was placed on an electronic tether after petitions were filed in April, but was led from the courtroom Thursday in handcuffs.

His attorney, Edwin Literski, declined comment after the hearing.

The teen’s admission to “serious crimes” made it “contrary to the welfare of the community for the juvenile to be in the community,” said Livingston County Juvenile Court Referee Chelsea Thomason, who presided over the hearing.

The teen will also undergo a sex offender risk assessment, as well as testing for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.

Before the hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Marilyn Bradford addressed the victims, their parents and other supporters – including a LACASA therapy dog – gathered in the courtroom, cautioning all to keep their emotions in check and assuring they would have a chance to speak at the disposition hearing.

In a court document, Bradford previously wrote that evidence would show the teen used the same approach – “he manipulated, he threatened, he bullied, he extorted, and he intimidated” – to assault each of the minor girls.

“This was not an innocent mistake,” she wrote. “The juvenile’s motive and intent is clear and consistent with all the girls he victimized.”

The document also said the teen later "feigned remorsefulness," approached the victims to apologize and assaulted them again.

A 'full range of options'

The court has jurisdiction over a juvenile offender until the offender is 18, but the jurisdiction can be extended to the age of 21 at the court's discretion.

Sentencing in juvenile court varies based on individual circumstances of each offender’s case.

“The court will have the full range of options at its disposal, including detention, residential treatment, probation, and any other conditions that will provide for community safety as well as options for rehabilitation of the juvenile,” said Livingston County Prosecutor William Vailliencourt, noting that the reduced number of counts does not change the court's authority over the teen.

“In this case, the juvenile admitted to one (count) of the most serious charges, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, as well as ... other sex offenses against each victim,” he said. “As a result of the first-degree criminal sexual conduct plea, the juvenile will be required to register as a sex offender for life.”

The court can impose the same sentence for one count or multiple counts, he added.

“The court will know all about this juvenile's conduct, regardless of the number of counts,” Vailliencourt said. “This is about obtaining a just and appropriate result — not about being able to point to a statistic of getting a plea to 31 counts.”

That hearing is set for Oct. 19.

A parent of one of the reported victims released a statement by email. The Livingston Daily is not identifying the parent to protect the identity of his daughter.

“As parents of the youngest victim at 12 years old, the sexual assault and home invasion that occurred was never acknowledged or admitted to by the defendant due to a weak plea deal offered by Marilyn Bradford the juvenile prosecutor. We feel this gave the defendant a pass.

“The prosecutor’s office handled this case based on their standard procedures and protocol, not to go to trial, we as victims are subject to their VERY LIBERAL decision making. With that said, the defendant pleading guilty to 6 felony convictions without having to go through trial and our daughter not having to testify in person holds some merit.

“Because of social media, many of our children know of this situation and the facts behind how often this type of crime is taking place in our community. We pray that the office of William Vailliencourt is blessed with the strength and wisdom to protect our children and community going forward.”

Vailliencourt said he hoped the outcome would bring "some closure for the victims and help them in their healing process."

Contact reporter Laura Colvin at 517-552-2848 or lcolvin@livingstondaily.com or follow her on Twitter: @LauraColvin22