It took a jury 45 minutes last week to find Michael Vance guilty of sexually assaulting an eight year girl. The trial was June 7-10 before Judge Fred Mester in Oakland County Circuit Court.
Last November, the 36 year old Pewamo man was arrested on seven charges of first degree criminal sexual conduct and three charges of second degree criminal sexual conduct. He was found guilty on all charges.
Vance was living with the girl’s mother at a residence on Axford Street in Lake Orion from September 2000 through the end of March 2001.
Local police were alerted to allegations of Vance’s sexual misconduct in November when an investigator from Flint’s Child Protection Agency informed them a report was filed that the girl had told a friend she had been assaulted repeatedly by her mother’s boyfriend.
The victim no longer lives in Lake Orion.
According to LO Police Chief Jerry Narsh, the girl did testify at the trial. ‘She’s a brave and courageous young lady.?
‘This type of act on a child is a heinous crime. For this victim, she at least got to see the system work and justice will be served.
‘When it’s a child this age, it’s larceny of innocence. It’s unfortunate there’s not a separate sentence for that. We do so much to protect our children in society. When a case like this comes forward, you know there are evil people who work on preying on our children. We need to protect them from this,? Narsh added.
Vance has been in jail since his arrest.
He will be sentenced by Judge Mester on July 14. He could receive up to a life sentence.