CSC case against Ludington man heads to trial.

CSC case against Ludington man heads to trial.

#MasonCountyCrime

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON — A criminal sexual conduct (CSC) case against a 40-year-old Ludington man is headed to trial next month in 51st Circuit Court.

John Shannon Sayles, of 106 S. Staffon St., is charged with first-degree CSC and second-degree CSC. According to Ludington Police Dept. Capt. Mike Harrie, Sayles has been charged based on an investigation that was referred to LPD by Child Protective Services.

Sayles was offered a plea agreement Tuesday, May 7, in which he could have pleaded to second-degree child abuse and would have served a jail sentence.

Sayles rejected the offer. “It’s your decision that you want to proceed to trial,” said his attorney David Glancy.

A first-degree CSC conviction is punishable by up to life in prison and lifetime electronic monitoring.

The trial is set for June 26-28.

Harrie said the allegations stem from 2015 and involved a minor female child, familiar with the defendant. The child was between the ages of 13 to 15 at the time of the alleged incidents, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola.

The alleged incident(s) took place at a residence in the 300 block of West Court Street, Harrie previously stated.

“Ludington Police Department was notified by CPS of the allegations on Nov. 14 and immediately began an investigation, which resulted in the request for an arrest warrant of the suspect,” Harrie said.

Sayles is free after posting $50,000 cash/surety bond.

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