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Christopher Eitniear with his attorney, Gary Springstead.
Hesperia man pleads ‘no contest’ to 4th-degree CSC.
#OceanaCountyNews #CourtNews
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
HART — A 50-year-old Hesperia man pleaded “no contest” Monday, April 24, in 27th Circuit Court to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC), which is a high-court misdemeanor.
Christopher Ora Eitniear, of 8864 Loop Rd., was also facing one felony count of third-degree CSC, as well as a felony count of absconding or forfeiting bond. Those charges were dismissed in a plea agreement.
Eitniear was considered “missing” last December, but he was later found in California and brought back to Michigan and lodged in the Oceana County Jail.
Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon provided two options to which Eitniear could plead. The first option, which Eitniear chose, included being released from jail at the time of sentencing, but having to register as a sex offender. The second option called for a prison term of one year and one day, but not registering as a sex offender.
Option 1 was pleading to fourth-degree CSC and capping his jail time at the midpoint of the sentencing guidelines, which are 0-9 months.
“At the time of sentencing he will have the amount of time he will need to serve,” Bizon said.
Option 2 called for pleading to second-degree child abuse.
Bizon said he consulted the victim regarding both options, and the victim was favorable to both options.
Eitniear’s attorney Gary Springstead said he advised his client to accept Option 2, because he would not have to register as a sex offender.
Springstead added one caveat, which the judge accepted, that his no-contest plea include an admission to an act involving an 18-year-old victim, which would make Eitniear a tier-one sexual offender.
The CSC incidents occurred before the vicitm was 18 and then after the victim turned 18. The judge cited “at least one occasion when there was inappropriate contact when she was 18.”
Sentencing is set for June 5 at 8:15 a.m.
This story is copyrighted © 2017, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
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