Clare County Man Convicted of Sexual Misconduct Against Minor Relative, Michigan AG Commends Victim’s Bravery

According to the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Roland Bourgeois, 56, of Lake, was found guilty on two charges of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct involving a juvenile relative in a speedy finding rendered by a Clare County jury. After less than an hour of discussion, the decision was rendered, emphasizing the prosecution’s strong case and the case’s obvious weight in the evidence.

According to information from a press release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Bourgeois abused the child in 2018 in a number of ways, including forcing him to touch him inappropriately. The victim did not disclose these crimes until last year, when he confided in a school counselor, years after the abuse had occurred because of threats from the abuser. Michigan Attorney General Nessel praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward and thanked the jury for their commitment as well as the unwavering work of the Michigan State Police and Child Protective Services in the case’s investigation.

The conviction relates to actions taken by Bourgeois in 2018, when the victim was first deterred from reporting the abuse because of the accused’s manipulative tactics. These crimes only came to light because a trusted school official had the guts to speak up, highlighting the tremendous psychological obstacles that kids frequently encounter in such horrific circumstances.

As the community deals with the somber reminder of the seriousness of these actions, Bourgeois awaits the last portion of his trial, which is scheduled for January 28, 2025, before Judge Roy G. Mienk in the 55th Circuit Court.

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