WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
A 38-year-old St. Joseph County man was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison Friday on a charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Richard Jackson was sentenced by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman after pleading guilty Feb. 15. Jackson’s plea agreement was negotiated by prosecutor David Marvin, who met with the 9-year-old victim and her family to discuss the case and prepare her for potentially testifying at a jury trial.
Marvin said he is happy to have met his goals of: punishing Jackson for his actions; protecting society by marking Jackson as a danger to children; requiring Jackson to be placed on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry; and keeping the victim from having to go through the traumatizing experience of reliving the crime by testifying at a jury trial.
Marvin said with Jackson headed to prison, the victim and her family can continue the healing process.
