Sex offender sentenced to 15-30 years in prison.

May 21, 2018

Daniel Durbin with defense attorney Rick Prysock. Oceana County sheriff’s deputy Joel Dickman is pictured in the background.

Sex offender sentenced to 15-30 years in prison.

#OceanaCountyCrime

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

HART — A 34-year-old Holton man was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison Monday, May 21, in 27th Circuit Court for six criminal sexual conduct convictions.

A 12-member jury found Daniel James Durbin, of 9260 S. 180th Ave., guilty on all six counts, April 12.

The jury during last month’s trial heard emotional testimony from the victims, who are three girls in their early teens.

“I am grateful for an appropriate outcome,” said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon following sentencing. “I pray the young victims may find closure, and all victims need to be supported and helped as much as possible.” Bizon argued for a 20-year minimum.

Durbin is convicted of two felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC); two felony counts of accosting children for immoral purposes; one felony count of committing gross indecency between a male and female; one high-court misdemeanor of fourth-degree CSC; and third-offense habitual offender.

Judge Anthony A. Monton, who retired last year, presided over the trial and sentencing due to scheduling conflicts for Judge Robert D. Springstead. Monton delivered the following concurrent terms: 15-30 years for the third-degree CSC convictions; 43 months to 10 years for the accosting minor convictions; 34 months to 10 years for the gross indecency conviction; and 34 months to four years for the fourth-degree CSC conviction.

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 99-240 months guidelines. Durbin received credit for 293 days served in jail.

Durbin exercised his right to remain silent and did not testify during the trial.

Co-defendant Ericka Lee Byler, who was Durbin’s girlfriend, was sentenced to serve six months up front of a nine-month discretionary jail term for her involvement in the case. Byler, who pleaded “no contest,” is convicted of accessory after the fact. She had no prior criminal record.

The sex crimes occurred in Greenwood Township near Hesperia during a time period of Aug. 1, 2016 to July 2, 2017.

According to the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS), Durbin has served three previous prison terms. He was sentenced in 2004 in Ingham County to a three-year maximum sentence for malicious destruction of property to a building $1,000-$20,000. In 2010, he was sentenced in Oceana County to a maximum term of two years for a conviction of assault with a dangerous weapon. Durbin also served a one-year maximum sentence in 2015 for a conviction of maintaining a drug house in Isabella County.

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