Donald S. Robarge charged with life offense for raping 5yo

[staysblazed_xo]

https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-...ly-abusing-5-year-old.html#incart_river_index

Donald S. Robarge, 57, on Dec. 11 was arraigned in Bay County District Court on one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim younger than 13. First-degree criminal sexual conduct is normally punishable by up to life imprisonment, but the young age of the victim attaches a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison.

Police allege Robarge in December 2017 abused a 5-year-old girl. The girl’s parent alerted police to the alleged misconduct, said Bay City Public Safety Capt. Caleb Rowell.

Robarge’s arraigning judge set his bond at $50,000, which a bonding agency posted on Robarge’s behalf.

 

[lithiumgirl]

Maybe he'll the shit kicked out of him on the street before he serves a shit sentence as inadequate as his bond.

 

[Babs]

What a scary looking boogie man with psycho eyes. Castrate and then shoot the fucker!

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A Bay County jury took less than a half-hour to exonerate a man accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl.

Jurors found 57-year-old Donald S. Robarge not guilty of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim younger than 13. Had he been convicted of the first-degree charge, Robarge would have faced a mandatory minimum 25-year sentence with a potential maximum of life imprisonment.
The jury deliberated for about 20 minutes.

“He’s obviously very happy the jury saw this for what it really was: that he absolutely didn’t do this,” defense attorney Matthew L. Reyes said of his client’s reaction to the verdicts.

During the trial, Bay County Assistant Prosecutor Bernard J. Coppolino alleged that around Christmas 2017, 7- and 5-year-old sisters were staying at Robarge’s house on Bay City’s West Side. The younger girl said that while she was in Robarge’s bed, he had reached over her older sister who was between them and touched her genitals.

Robarge’s wife had been in the same room at the time, sitting a few feet away on a computer, according to testimony.

Robarge testified he absolutely did not touch the girl. He added he had been sleeping and when he awoke in the morning for work, he was surprised to discover the girls had come into his and his wife’s bed overnight.

Reyes described the girl’s statement as “bizarre” and said “obvious red flags” arose in the case indicating Robarge’s innocence. The girl also testified during the trial she had been sexually assaulted by a different man in Saginaw, Reyes said.

Prior to the trial, prosecutors had offered to dismiss first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim younger than 13 if Robarge would plead guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. That charge is limited to touching and is a two-year high court misdemeanor.

Robarge rejected the offer, opting to take his chances with a jury, Reyes said.

Robarge “feels he was treated very poorly by the prosecution and the courts,” Reyes said. “He’s obviously happy the jury could do and did do the right thing.”

Jury takes 20 minutes to find man not guilty of sexually assaulting girl, 5

The man faced 25 years to life in prison if he had been convicted.

www.mlive.com

@Crazy Cat Lady


The girl has obviously been sexually abused at some point.

Do you think he was guilty?

 

[BuffettGirl]

Do you think he was guilty?

I think perhaps he was "safe" to accuse. As in, she had to tell someone what happened, and he was safe to blame. Perhaps because the real perp is closer to her?

 

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Jury takes 20 minutes to find man not guilty of sexually assaulting girl, 5

The man faced 25 years to life in prison if he had been convicted.

www.mlive.com

@Crazy Cat Lady


The girl has obviously been sexually abused at some point.

Do you think he was guilty?

In this case I don’t think he did what he was accused of, especially since his wife was in the same room.

But I do agree with you: the little girl was assaulted by someone. Probably someone closer, as @BuffettGirl said.