Coldwater man arrested for sexual assault against 2 girls at campsite.

Stempien

CUSTER TWP. — A 43-year-old Coldwater, Mich. man was arrested Saturday for allegedly sexually assaulting two girls along the Pere Marquette River. William Joseph Stempien was charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct second degree and one count of CSC fourth degree. He was also charged with possession of analogues, hydrocodone.

On August 30 at 4:48 p.m. a Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer on patrol on Cable Road near Custer Road was flagged down by two young females claiming they had been sexually assaulted.  The conservation officer stayed with the victims until Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived.  A second deputy located the suspect, based on information provided by the Conservation Officer, at the Scottville Riverside Park boat launch, where he was found in possession of hydrocodone pills and eventually arrested, according to Sheriff Kim Cole.

The alleged incident took place at a campsite along the P.M. River in Custer Township where the subjects were all camping.  The suspect is not related to the victims.

The alleged CSC involved touching of the victims.

The reported victims are 12- and 13 year-old girls from southern Michigan.

Stempien was arraigned and released from jail after posting $50,000 cash/surety bond.