Gregory DuJardine, previously convicted of sexual assault, has been sentenced to 25 to 75 years in prison following an assault in Ottawa County. In September 2024, DuJardine followed a woman to a gas station parking lot in Port Sheldon Township, assaulted her, and was apprehended the following day in Muskegon. DuJardine's history includes a 1989 conviction for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, for which he was given a life sentence but was granted parole in January 2024 under Michigan's Lifer Law, as reported by WZZM 13.
During sentencing on Friday, the victim shared her trauma via Zoom, expressing fears for her safety in public spaces and the impact the event has had on her life. "I've explained many times how this assault has made me even more aware of my surroundings and has has made me uneasy whenever I'm in public or even home alone, because I'm afraid I may be attacked unprovoked," she said, a statement obtained by FOX 17 News. In 2024, concerns were raised about DuJardine's behavior, including hostility towards women and a preoccupation with sex, yet he was paroled with the requirement to attend additional counseling and sex offender therapy.
Despite the additional measures, Judge Jon Hulsing highlighted the failure of the authorities to monitor DuJardine adequately, pointing out that he frequented beaches and public areas where he covertly took hundreds of images of women. "In spite of all that, he was not called into account by the parole authorities, and now we have a third victim," Judge Hulsing stated, as per WOOD TV. The judge condemned the state parole board for failing to prevent another assault.
Assistant Prosecutor comments during the sentencing underscored the gravity of DuJardine's actions: "Anything less than a lengthy incarceration puts half our population, females in this county, in jeopardy," she said, according to WOOD TV. DuJardine's habitual offender status and the severity of the assault demanded a sentence that would likely see him remain incarcerated till he is no longer a threat. His latest sentence ensures that he will not be eligible for parole until he is at least 86 years old.
