VERVILLE

MARQUETTE — Louis Franklin Verville was sentenced Friday to a minimum of nine years in prison with a maximum of 15 years after pleading no contest to criminal sexual conduct -third degree after the sexual assault of a 4-year-old child in 2020.

Verville, a 69-year-old Gwinn resident, appeared via Zoom Friday in front of 25th Circuit Court Judge Hon. Jennifer A. Mazzuchi.

A trial had originally been scheduled for Nov. 29 with the original charge of criminal sexual conduct-first degree, which carries a minimum 25-year sentence.

Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Andy Griffin said that Verville and his attorney Karl Numinen agreed to a plea deal that reduced the charge to criminal sexual conduct-third degree. The plea allowed Verville to avoid a trial and face a 25-year sentence if convicted. The plea deal was arranged to avoid having the victim testify during a trial.

During the hearing, a statement was read by the mother of the victim.

Verville will receive credit for 54 days served and will be added to the sex offender list.

“It’s fairly clear that, Mr. Verville, you knew that this was a child who had some vulnerabilities,” Mazzuchi said. “You took advantage of this child in a way that can have lifelong consequences. It warrants a long prison sentence.”

Randy Crouch can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. His email address is rcrouch@miningjournal.net.