Teen sentenced for attempting to accost child.

Chauvez with defense attorney David Glancy.

Teen sentenced for attempting to accost child.

#MasonCountyCrime.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON — An 18-year-old Ludington man was sentenced to serve five months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term for convictions of attempted accosting a child for immoral purposes and harboring a runaway Tuesday, March 13, in 51st Circuit Court.

Jesus Maria Chavez, of 603 S. Washington Ave., pleaded guilty to the charges last January.

In exchange for his plea, a third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge, which is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, was dismissed. The victim in the case was a 14-year-old girl.

Attempted accosting children for immoral purposes is a two-year felony, and harboring runaways is a misdemeanor.

Chavez will not have to register as a sex offender.

“Mr. Chauvez was concealing a teen and hiding her from her parents and police,” said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola.

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 0-17 months.

He received credit for 122 days served in jail and was ordered to two years probation. Judge Susan K. Sniegowski did not require Chauvez to serve any additional up front jail time.

“You’re an adult, and you need to start acting like one,” said Sniegowski.

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