WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
A Sturgis man will face up to life in prison for holding his girlfriend captive for 12 days in March 2021.
Rocky Gardner, 39, pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree criminal sexual conduct and false imprisonment as a second habitual offender. In exchange for Gardner’s guilty plea, assistant prosecutor Deborah Davis agreed to drop 12 other charges against him.
Gardner admitted under oath that he restrained the victim from leaving their residence, and that he used force and coercion for intercourse.
At times, the victim was tied up by Gardner, but at others, she went with him to his job and remained in his vehicle unrestrained, she testified during a preliminary examination in April.
After 12 days under Gardner’s control, the victim finally ran from the Sturgis home.
