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January 14, 2000Charlevoix man held, raped 13-year-old girl over three days, police sayIncidents allegedly occurred in two TC-area motelsBy PATRICK SULLIVANRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Police arrested a man late Wednesday who they say kept a 13-year-old in two East Bay Township motel rooms for three days and raped her. James Sanger, 37, of Charlevoix, is described in court records as the father of a friend of the 13-year-old. Police say he convinced the girl to leave with him from her East Jordan home to go on a shopping trip to Traverse City. Between Jan. 7 and 9, Sanger and the girl stayed at the Driftwood Motel and the Mitchell Creek Inn. The girl told police Sanger took her clothes off, removed his clothes and climbed on top of her. In his request for a court-appointed lawyer Thursday at his arraignment, Sanger described himself as unemployed and divorced. He was convicted in 1983 of giving alcohol to minors. The girl's parents reported her missing to police on Friday and said she had failed to return from a friend's house. They are not listed in a phone directory and could not be reached for comment Thursday. Grand Traverse Prosecutor Dennis LaBelle said the investigation is continuing and there could be more charges. He referred further questions to an investigator with the Michigan State Police, who could not be reached Thursday for comment. Sanger was being held in jail Thursday in lieu of a $500,000 bond. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree. Charlevoix Prosecutor Mary Beth Kur said Sanger will likely not be charged with kidnapping because there is insufficient evidence that the girl was taken against her will and because of other considerations that Kur said she could not comment on. She said she would let the Grand Traverse case run its course before making a final decision. "He's charged with a life offense down there and even if he were charged with 20 other offenses they would all run concurrent," Kur said. Sanger is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Jan. 27. |
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