Branch man sent to prison for sex crimes.

Charles Rose, Jr. with his attorney, David Glancy.

#MasonCountyNews #MasonCountyCourtNews

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 38-year-old Branch man was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Sept. 6, to 11 years and three months to 75 years in prison for four felony convictions involving the sexual assault of a girl under the age of 16.

Charles Clayton Rose, Jr., of 479 S. Tyndall Rd., was convicted by a jury of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC); second-degree CSC; accosting a child for immoral purposes; and using a computer to commit a crime.

Rose, who will be subject to lifetime electronic monitoring upon his release from prison, wept as he addressed Judge Susan K. Sniegowski. “I’m not sure what to say,” he said. “I feel that I haven’t been put in the best of light.” Rose said he plans to appeal his conviction.

Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola presented a plea offer last March, in which Rose could have pleaded guilty to three counts (not including the charge of using a computer to commit a crime) and serve a minimum of 70 months (less than six years) to a maximum of 30 years in prison, but Rose rejected the offer.

Spaniola said Rose engaged in “long-term grooming of the victim.” The prosecutor said Rose was grooming the young girl, who was between the age of 13 and 16, for “sexual purposes.”

“Mr. Rose has no prior criminal convictions, said Rose’s attorney, David Glancy. “He has been cooperative and courteous throughout investigation. There is a lengthy history that he has been a law-abiding citizen.”

Sniegowski, who also cited Rose’s “grooming behaviors,” said he engaged in “planned, calculated thought-out series of internet searches” and that he engaged in “planning to manipulate this child to engage in sexual relations with him.” The judge said the victim has on “more than one occasion attempted suicide. The defendant used her for his own sexual gratification.”

In addition to the 11 years and three months to 75 years in prison for first-degree CSC, Sniegowskli ordered that Rose serve concurrent terms of four years and six months to 15 years for Count 2; one year and five months to four years four Count 3; and one year and 11 months to 10 years four Count 4.

Rose received credit for 70 days served in jail.