Man rejects plea deal, faces up to life without parole for CSC.

Herrera

Man rejects plea deal, faces up to life without parole for CSC.

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By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 35-year-old Sherman Township man facing numerous criminal sexual conduct (CSC) charges rejected a plea arrangement offered by Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola Tuesday, July 11, in 51st Circuit Court that would have spared him from a 25-year minimum prison term, but he rejected the offer and now his case is headed to trial.

Ryan Lee Herrera, of 3376 N. Custer Rd., faces a maximum prison term of life without parole due to his previous criminal record.

Herrera faces felony charges of second-offense first-degree criminal sexual conduct (victim under 13), first-degree criminal sexual conduct (during a felony), possession of child sexually-abusive material, delivery of marijuana, maintaining a drug house, and accosting a child for immoral purposes in one file. In another court file, Herrera is charged with second-offense accosting a child for immoral purposes. There are two separate victims, said Spaniola.

The prosecutor offered a plea deal during Tuesday’s final conference hearing in which Herrera could plead guilty to two counts of first-degree CSC and second-offense accosting a child for immoral purposes. His minimum sentence would be within the guidelines of 171-356 months, which is 14.25 to 29.7 years. Spaniola said the maximum prison term would be 70 years. In the other file, Herrera would plead guilty to second-offense accosting a child for immoral purposes with a six-year maximum prison term. The two terms would run concurrently.

“My client will enter a ‘not guilty’ plea, and we will set the matter for trial,” said his attorney David Glancy.

A first-degree CSC conviction requires a 25-year mandatory minimum and lifetime mandatory electronic monitoring. Due to Herrera’s previous criminal history, a first-degree CSC conviction elevates his maximum term to life without parole.

Herrera remains lodged in the Mason County Jail on a $500,000 cash/surety bond.

A trial date has not yet been scheduled.

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