Ludington man sent to prison for CSC.

Scott MacArthur with his attorney, Al Swanson, Jr. Mason County Sheriff’s deputy Matt Murphy is pictured in the background.

Ludington man sent to prison for CSC.

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By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 22-year-old Ludington man was sentenced Tuesday, Dec. 6, in 51st Circuit Court to three-and-a-half to 16 and a half years in prison for a conviction of attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC).

Scott Samuel-Ray MacArthur, of 713 East Filer St., pleaded guilty last October after having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl.

MacArthur was arrested last April by the Ludington Police Department for felonies of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, accosting a child for immoral purposes and fourth-offense habitual offender. He has been lodged in the Mason County Jail on a $50,000/cash/surety bond.

He testified in October that he attempted to engage in sexual penetration with the girl last February at Nader’s Motel in Ludington.

“The defendant initially contacted a 14-year-old through a Facebook friend request,” said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski. “He invited her to stay in a hotel room… Mr. MacArthur was the adult in this situation and should have taken responsibility, and he didn’t.”

In exchange for his plea, the two counts he was originally charged with were dismissed.

MacArthur, who will have to register as sex offender, initially faced life in prison based on his habitual offender status.

MacArthur was on probation at the time for aggravated stalking, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola, who described him as “a predator of young females. The defendant sought this particular victim knowing her susceptibility.”

This was MacArthur’s sixth time in court since 2013, the prosecutor said, citing his previous convictions of drug possession, stalking, resisting and opposing police and using of a computer to commit a crime.

Spaniola said MacArthur contacted the victim in an attempt to get her to not cooperate with authorities.

“My client has accepted responsibility and is looking forward to getting this behind him,” said his attorney, Al Swanson, Jr.

“I’m a young man just starting my life,” said MacArthur who also said he has aspirations of being a father some day. “The last few years, I have made some really poor decisions, but I still have hopes and goals.”

He received credit for 223 days served in jail.

He was also sentenced in two probation violation files of four to 10 years and four to 14 years in prison with credit for 665 days served in jail. Those sentences run concurrently to his CSC case. Judge Susan K. Sniegowski revoked his probation, and he was discharged as “unsuccessful.”