A Warren man has been convicted of sexually assaulting two young girls, as reported by several local news outlets. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office stated last week that Christopher Michael Rushing-Mckinney, 29, was found guilty on four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct by a jury after a two-day trial; according to The Detroit News, the assaults involved two young female relatives under the age of 13, and took place in the basement of his home.
Rushing-Mckinney now faces a potential life sentence with a mandatory minimum of 25 years for each count, and he is expected to receive his sentence on May 8, this information coming directly from court records, CBS Detroit states he is currently scheduled for this upcoming sentencing; Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido emphasized in a statement obtained by CBS Detroit that the "safety and well-being of our children is our top priority."
In the aftermath of the verdict, the judge revoked Rushing-Mckinney's bond, leading to his remand to the Macomb County Jail, states The Detroit News, his defense attorney, Joseph Kosmala, maintains his client's innocence, saying, "From the first time I met my client, he has maintained that he is innocent, he still says that, even after the jury verdict." These comments were revealed in an interview he gave to The Detroit News.
Lucido, further addressing the conviction, reaffirmed his commitment to "seeking justice for the young survivors and ensuring those who prey on them are held accountable," a stance that echoes the sentiments he shared across all platforms, including macombdaily, clearly the conviction is the latest in a series of cases in Michigan involving allegations of sexual abuse against minors; additional charges were filed against a Berkley man by Oakland County prosecutors and a Wayne County pastor pleaded no contest to criminal sexual conduct—all within a period that has put the spotlight on crimes against children in the state, as per The Detroit News.
