A Livonia man is behind bars after Oakland County deputies say he repeatedly sexually assaulted his girlfriend’s 11-year-old daughter. Authorities identified the suspect as 33-year-old Jeremiah Michael Bishop, who was taken into custody on Thursday at his mother’s home. Court records show Bishop faces four felony counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and is set to return to Novi’s 52-1 District Court on Aug. 7.
According to The Oakland Press, the Oakland County fugitive-apprehension team arrested Bishop after investigators were alerted when the child’s grandfather reported allegations to deputies. The outlet reports the girl first told family members about the abuse, later disclosing multiple incidents at a care house, and that her mother turned over text messages allegedly from Bishop in which he appeared to admit to inappropriate conduct.
What officials say about the investigation
Per the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, the child described multiple episodes of abuse during a forensic interview at a care house, and investigators formally opened the probe after the grandfather’s report. Sheriff Michael Bouchard called the allegations “horrific,” and officials say Bishop was taken into custody on July 23 at his mother’s residence while the fugitive-apprehension team carried out the arrest.
Court proceedings, bond and monitoring
Bishop was arraigned last Friday in Novi’s 52-1 District Court and ordered held on an $850,000 cash or surety bond, according to court records. A judge further ruled that if Bishop posts bond, he must be monitored by a GPS tether. His next scheduled hearing, a probable-cause conference on Aug. 7, is listed in 52-1 District Court filings.
Legal context
Second-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony under Michigan law that can carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. In cases involving children under 13, the law also allows for lifetime electronic monitoring and other statutory penalties. The charge is governed by Michigan Compiled Law 750.520c, which defines criminal sexual conduct involving sexual contact with a child and sets out aggravating circumstances.
What’s next
Bishop is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. His probable-cause conference is scheduled for Aug. 7 before a judge in Novi. Officials say anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact the Oakland County Sheriff's Office or the Novi court clerk. The sheriff’s office also provides victim resources for those affected by sexual assault.
