Friday, April 18, 2008

04182008 - Officer Brandon Robinson - Child Abuse - Sentenced - Lowell PD

Also See:

Lowell PD Officer Brandon Robinson charged with CSC [May 22, 2007]









ORIGINAL CHARGES: TWO COUNTS OF 3RD DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT



MDOC NUMBER: 680367
CURRENT STATUS: PROBATIONER
LOCATION: KENT / GRAND RAPIDS PROBATION
SECURITY LEVEL:
SUPERVISION BEGIN DATE: 04/18/2008
SUPERVISION DISCHARGE DATE: 04/18/2013
OFFENSE: CHILD ABUSE, 2ND DEGREE MCL# 750.136B3
COURT FILE #: 0715242-FH
COUNTY: ALLEGAN
CONVICTION TYPE: PLEA
MINIMUM SENTENCE:
MAXIMUM SENTENCE: 5 YEARS
DATE OF OFFENSE: 01/01/2002
DATE OF SENTENCE: 04/18/2008










Former police officer gets jail time, probation
Published: Friday, April 18, 2008, 11:45 PM
Updated: Friday, April 18, 2008, 11:47 PM
By The Grand Rapids Press
The Grand Rapids Press
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/04/former_police_officer_gets_jai.html

ALLEGAN -- A former Lowell police officer accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2002 was sentenced to 11 months in jail and five years of probation Friday in Allegan County Circuit Court.

Brandon Clare Robinson, 31, of Wyoming, was sentenced for second-degree child abuse as part of a plea agreement where prosecutors dismissed a sexual assault charge.

Allegations against Robinson surfaced last year when the teen, now 18, divulged to his sister the molestation secret he kept for five years.

The victim alleged Robinson molested him several times over at least a year at Sandy Pines Resort near Hopkins, where Robinson had a trailer.

Robinson, who resigned from the Lowell Police Department in February, had worked full time since 2005 and part time since December 2002.

Before that, he worked as a part-time deputy with the Allegan County Sheriff's Department from April 2000 to May 2002.

He had been on unpaid administrative leave before his resignation.

At Friday's sentencing, the victim talked about the molestation's harmful emotional impact, Allegan County Assistant Prosecutor Doug Ketchum said.

The child abuse conviction keeps Robinson off the state's sex-offender registry, but Ketchum said it should end any career in law enforcement.

"I would think anyone with any kind of felony conviction would not be a likely candidate for that type of job," he said.

Ketchum said it is not uncommon for victims to come forward about sexual assaults years after they occur, particularly when the victim is a child. Sometimes, they are frightened to tell anyone until they get older.












Officer in sex case quits Lowell job
Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2008, 9:33 AM
Updated: Wednesday, February 20, 2008, 9:35 AM
By John Tunison
The Grand Rapids Press
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/02/officer_in_sex_case_quits_lowe.html




ALLEGAN -- A Lowell police officer accused of molesting a teenage friend six years ago at an Allegan County campground has resigned from the force after pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Brandon Clare Robinson, 30, was on unpaid administrative leave from the Lowell Police Department since May. He resigned Monday, police said.

He was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct after the alleged 2002 molestation surfaced when the teen, now 18, told his sister.

Robinson pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree child abuse, a four-year felony.

Robinson, a full-time Lowell officer since 2005 who worked part time for more than two years before that, was accused of molesting a teen family friend at a trailer Robinson had at Sandy Pines resort near Hopkins.

During a hearing in May, the teen testified he sometimes would spend the night at the trailer and said he was molested several times over months.

Robinson was not employed with Lowell then, but worked as a part-time Allegan County sheriff's deputy from April 2000 to May 2002.

He pleaded guilty to the child-abuse charge just days before his trial was to begin in Allegan County Circuit Court.

"He had to put his family first," said Robinson's attorney, Frank Stanley. "He has a young child at home. He wanted to think about what was in the best interest for his family."

Stanley said the trial may have come down to the teen's word against that of Robinson.

"There was a pretty significant factual dispute about what happened," Stanley said. "This was the best compromise."

Lowell Police Chief Jim Valentine said Robinson came to the Police Department on Monday to submit his resignation. With a felony conviction pending, he knew he could no longer serve, Valentine said.

The allegations against Robinson, described as a capable and respected officer, are still baffling even today, he said.

"It was just a state of total shock and surprise to our entire staff," Valentine said. "He was an outstanding police officer."

The department is close-knit, with seven full-time officers, eight part-time officers and two clerks.

Robinson could receive jail time at his March 14 sentencing, but is not expected to receive prison, his attorney said.


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