In a swift verdict delivered by a Clare County jury, Roland Bourgeois, a 56-year-old man from Lake, was found guilty on two counts of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct involving a minor relative, as reported by the Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office. The decision came after less than an hour of deliberation, highlighting the case's clear evidentiary weight and the prosecution's solid argument.
Details from the Michigan Department of Attorney General's press release state that in 2018, Bourgeois perpetrated multiple acts of abuse on the child, including compelling the victim to touch him inappropriately these crimes were not revealed until the victim confided in a school counselor last year, this disclosure coming years after the abuse due to the perpetrator's threats. Michigan Attorney General Nessel expressed gratitude for the jury's dedication, and the relentless efforts of both Child Protective Services and the Michigan State Police in investigating the case, and underscored the commendable bravery of the victim in coming forward.
The conviction stems from acts committed by Bourgeois back in 2018, with the victim initially discouraged from disclosing the abuse due to the manipulative influence of the accused. Only through the courage to break the silence of a trusted school official did these crimes come to light, demonstrating the immense psychological barriers children often face in such harrowing situations.
Scheduled for sentencing on January 28, 2025, before Judge Roy G. Mienk in the 55th Circuit Court, Bourgeois now awaits the final phase of his trial while the community reckons with the sobering reminder of the gravity of these offenses.
