CSC case moves forward

The case against a Houghton man charged with a sex crime is moving forward despite being unable once again to get a plea from the defendant.

25-year-old Chad Lapointe is charged with 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct for allegedly having sex with a 15 year old girl.

A previous move to plea bargain down to attempted criminal sexual conduct failed when Lapointe was unable to establish a factual basis for the judge to accept the guilty plea.

Wednesday, the attorney for Lapointe indicated that his client may be suffering memory loss as a residual effect from a car accident when the suspect was 17.

The judge set a pre-trial hearing in four to six weeks to give the defense time to gather documentation as to Lapointe’s condition.

The case is scheduled to go to trial in April.