Leelanau County Jury Finds Derek Bailey Guilty of Sex Crimes

A jury reached a decision in the Derek Bailey sex crimes trial.

The one time Congressional candidate was convicted on two counts.

Derek Bailey was on trial in Leelanau County for five sex crime charges.

After a total of eleven hours of deliberation the jury found Derek Bailey guilty of second degree criminal sexual conduct.

Those charges are specific to one of the two victims.

The jury found him not guilty on the three more serious charges of first degree criminal sexual conduct.

“I hope something can be done later on because he is innocent,” Derek Bailey’s great aunt Shirley Anderson said.

The courtroom was tense as many waited to hear what they jury decided in the Derek bailey sex crimes trial.

Some people are not happy with the outcome.

“I thought it’s not fair when they kept saying not guilty, not guilty, not guilty and I expected it to be that all the way because in my heart I know he did not,” Anderson said.

Bailey’s family and attorneys say the verdict was a surprise.

“He’s an innocent man, he’s a fine man and I know he wouldn’t do the terrible things that they said he did. I just know he wouldn’t have done that,” said Anderson.

“I expected if they would have thought my client was guilty of something they would have been out an hour or two and come back directly after that. So I suspect there was a great deal of angst in the jury room. I suspect that they did their best job with the information they had,” defense attorney Craig Elhart said.

With two convictions, Bailey could face up to 15 years in prison for sexually abusing one of the young teenage victims.

The prosecution says they admire her courage for testifying in the case.

“I have not spoken to the victims. I have spoken to their mother. Obviously there’s a mixed reaction as it relates to the verdict but they to are pleased there was a decision that was made, that there is a verdict that was rendered,” said chief assistant prosecutor Doug Donaldson.

Bailey also faces two counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct in Grand Traverse County.

It is unclear if this verdict will affect that upcoming trial.