STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ)— A 17-year-old accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student at Henry Ford II High School in Sterling Heights may be charged as an adult.
The suspect is being held without bond.
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office said they charged the teen with Criminal Sexual Conduct In The Third Degree “after careful review”.
If convicted, the teen faces up to 15 years in prison for the felony.
The Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion on Thursday to waive the case to the Macomb County Circuit Court to be tried as an adult.
Sterling Heights Police said the alleged assault happened around 1:30 p.m., during school hours, on December 5th. The suspect was arrested “without incident” after authorities gathered evidence.
The school’s principal, Lori Singleton, said in a letter to families that they immediately contacted police after becoming aware of the allegations: “We are cooperating fully with authorities as they investigate what appears to be an isolated incident.”
She added no further details about the incident will be released, and that the school has initiated its “own investigation.”
The suspect is due in Macomb County Circuit Court on January 8, 2024.
“This is a serious crime and we will treat it as such,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a press release, “We will continue to pursue justice and seek accountability for the victim.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sterling Heights Police Department Investigations Bureau at (586) 446-2825.