Man convicted of CSC avoids jail due to state sentencing reform bill

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Man convicted of CSC avoids jail due to state sentencing reform bill.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 60-year-old Ludington man was sentenced to five years probation for a conviction of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, April 27.

Jack James Johnson, of 494 S. Pere Marquette Hwy., avoided a jail term for the high-court misdemeanor conviction due mainly to the recent Michigan Jails Task Force 2020 Legislative Package that was signed into law earlier this year, with some portions of it just taking effect this month.

Sentencing guidelines in Johnson’s case are 0-6 months.

PA 395 — part of the state bipartisan justice reform package — mandates that such guidelines receive no jail time.

“She still lives in fear of him,” said Mason County Prosecutor Lauren Kreinbrink of the victim. “The effects of this are lasting in her life.”

“We would just ask the court to sentence in accordance with PA 395,” said Johnson’s attorney Julie Springstead-Waltz.

“The law has changed since the first time we were here,” said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski.

The incident occurred June 29, 2020 in the City of Ludington. Johnson entered a “no contest” plea Nov. 24, 2020.

The victim was 25 years old at the time of the incident, said Kreinbrink. “The defendant repeatedly grabbed the victim’s breasts and gential area while she repeatedly told him to stop. She was greatly traumatized by the incident in my opinion.”

Johnson appeared in court Tuesday via Zoom video conferencing due to COVID-19.

MCP will have a more detailed report about the justice reform package in the coming weeks.

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