Man sentenced to prison for criminal sexual conduct with victim he met online

IRON MOUNTAIN — An Iron Mountain man accused of engaging in criminal sexual conduct with a thirteen-year-old girl he met online is headed to prison.

Michael Holmes, 27, received a prison sentence of seven to 20 years for using a computer to commit a crime. Holmes also received seven to 15 years in prison on the charge of third degree criminal sexual conduct and 18 months to four years for possession of child sexually abusive material. Those sentences will run concurrently.

Despite alleged evidence that points to the contrary, when questioned by the Judge, Holmes denied that he had knowledge of the victim’s age when the crimes were committed.

“Knowledge that she wasn’t 18 or that she was 13 is not an element of this offense, but I believe in your continuing to insist that at no point in this relationship did you know or suspect she was under 18 is an unforgivable attempt to minimize your actions,” said 41st Circuit Court Judge Mary B. Barglind. “It’s time, Mr. Holmes, to act like the adult man that you are.”

“This case is hard because it reflects the world we now live in,” added Dickinson County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristin Kass. “If it wasn’t for the internet, social media, [and] dating sites, these two paths never would have crossed, but because of the world we live in, predators like Mr. Holmes can now find a child online. They can befriend a child, lure the child, and in this case, Mr. Holmes sexually assaulted the child.”

Holmes was arrested by the Iron Mountain Police Department in April after they received information on a runaway juvenile in Wisconsin was staying at a residence in Iron Mountain. Originally charged with seven counts, Holmes pleaded guilty to three charges in October.