HARVALA

LANSING — A Kingsford man will serve up to 35 years in prison for second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The Honorable Christopher Ninomiya in the 41st Circuit Court sentenced Justin Harvala to a term of 142 months to 35 years imprisonment for second-degree criminal sexual conduct on Monday. In a press release, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Harvala was convicted by a jury on March 30 as a habitual fourth offender for the assault of a 7-year-old girl. He had previously been registered as a sex offender.

Authorities said the assault was captured on a “nannycam” by the victim’s mother on February 11, 2021, at the victim’s home while her mother was in another room. Once the assault was discovered, the victim’s mother confronted Harvala, demanded that he immediately leave her home, and then called the police.

“I’m grateful to the court for granting the significant sentence we sought of this habitual offender, and to the victim’s family for continuing the pursuit of justice for their daughter,” Nessel said. “Our hope, with a sentence of this length, is that this child may grow up and live freely knowing the man who assaulted her is nowhere in her community, and that he is not in a position to victimize more children.”

According to the release, the Dickinson County Prosecutor’s Office asked the attorney general’s office to review the case. The prosecutor’s office provided the attorney general’s office the with full access to DCPO resources, such as the victim advocate, existing case files, and a child screen so that the victim would not be required to look at the defendant in court.