October 12, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Prosecutor Tim Rutkowski, 989.269.9255
On October 12, 2022, a Huron County jury found David William Gray guilty of two counts Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 1st Degree and two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second Degree. All four counts involve the Defendant sexually assaulting two minor children when they were under the age of 13.
The charges arose out of an investigation by the Michigan State Police indicating that from 2007–2010, the defendant sexually assaulted one child when she was three years old and another child while she was between the ages of 5 to 9. On December 7, 2021, Prosecutor Timothy J. Rutkowski charged the defendant with the four counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct. He was extradited from Florida, with the assistance of the United States Marshall’s Service, and arraigned in District Court on the four charges on February 1, 2022.
After waiving the Preliminary Examination, the defendant was arraigned in the Circuit Court on the original charges, as well as a Second Offense notice alleging that the Defendant had been convicted of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 2nd Degree on a minor on July 13, 1990, and a Habitual Offender 4th degree, meaning that he had at least three prior felony convictions.
A two-day jury trial was held in the 52nd Circuit Court on October 11 and 12, 2022 on all four felony counts tried by Prosecutor Timothy Rutkowski and Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney David Wallace. The evidence included the two victims’ testimony, the defendant’s ex-wife, a junior high school teacher, the defendant’s sister and Michigan State Trooper Craig. During the trial, the jury was able to watch a video recording of the defendant admitting to sexually assaulting the two minor children.
After less than 45 minutes of deliberation, a jury of five women and seven men found Gray guilty on all four counts, including that the defendant was over 17 and the victims were under the age of 13.
Mr. Rutkowski commended the integrity of this case because of the complete and thorough investigation by Trooper Craig and the courage of the victims to come forward and share what happened to them.
“Due to the diligent investigation by Trooper Craig of the Michigan State Police, and the courage of the victims of these horrific crimes, our office was able to prosecute Gray to the fullest extent of the law and ensure that he will be held accountable for his crimes,”
Prosecutor Timothy Rutkowski
Based on the statute, a Conviction of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the 1st Degree on a minor, with a prior of a Criminal Sexual Conduct on a Minor charge requires the court to impose a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. The Honorable Gerald M. Prill will sentence the Defendant on December 5, 2022.
