The criminal charge against a Utah man accused of trying to lure an 8-year-old girl into the woods while she rode her bike in Brighton Township has been dismissed, months after his arrest sparked alarm in the Livingston County community. Ryan Josue Rojas, of Herriman, Utah, had faced one count of accosting a minor for immoral purposes following the alleged May 27 incident on Rosemary Lane.
The dismissal came during a pre-examination hearing at the 53rd District Court in Howell, according to ClickOnDetroit, which reported that the court dismissed the charge against Rojas. The outlet reported contacting the Livingston County Prosecutor's Office to ask why the charge was dropped. Notably, outlets have diverged on Rojas's age — ClickOnDetroit's report on the dismissal describes him as 24, while earlier arraignment coverage, including from WHMI, identified him as 20.
What Police Said Happened on Rosemary Lane
According to police accounts, the 8-year-old girl was riding her bicycle alone around 7 p.m. on May 27 near Rosemary Lane when a man approached her. The man appeared to be a door-to-door salesman and wore an identification badge for a pest control company, CBS Detroit reported.
Investigators said the man promised the girl “a surprise” if she would follow him into nearby woods, as reported by WWJ Newsradio. The girl's father confronted the man, who then fled the area on a Segway-type vehicle, the station reported.
Arrest and Arraignment Followed Within Days
Police located and arrested the suspect the following day, with Auburn Hills police assisting Michigan State Police in the apprehension, per the CBS Detroit report. Rojas was later arraigned on the single count of accosting a minor for immoral purposes.
His bond was set at $250,000 cash or surety, with conditions that included GPS monitoring and no contact with the alleged victim or any person under 18, according to the earlier ClickOnDetroit account of his arraignment. At that time, he was expected back in court within 21 days, though no further hearing date had been scheduled as of that report.
Unanswered Questions Remain
The reason behind the dismissal has not been disclosed in available reporting, and it remains unclear what, if anything, happened at the pre-examination hearing beyond the outcome itself. Rojas's current custody status and whether any further legal proceedings are planned have also not been confirmed.
