Brandon Twp – On Monday, Oct. 27, compelling testimony from two alleged victims propelled a Lapeer County judge to bind Randy Ray Cooper, of Brandon Twp., to circuit court on allegations of criminal sexual conduct.
In June, 2003 Cooper was arrested for alleged inappropriate touching of an 8-year-old girl. At that time he was released on a $100,000 personal bond of the second degree CSC charge.
Prosecuting Attorney Robert Shellig said the Sept. 29 pretrial for that particular charge was delayed because Magistrate Gregory Wise called for a briefing to decide whether the ‘touching? constitutes misconduct.
Cooper was arrested before he left the courtroom, however, on another CSC charge for attempted rape of a 21-year- old woman. He was released the next day on another $100,000 personal bond.
‘There was enough evidence on that one to arrest him right away,? said Schellig.
During the investigation of the original charge from the 8-year-old, a Lapeer woman came forward alleging Cooper forcefully held her down and attempted to rape her on New Years Eve, 2002.
‘As a result of your breaking article, people have been coming out of the woodwork,? said Shellig.
‘Other women came forward, some from many years ago, some from Oakland County, and some even from Florida.?
Shellig said because of the extensive research done by the prosecutor’s office, at the pretrial hearing on Monday, Oct. 27, the judge ruled to bind both cases over to circuit court for trial.
‘The pretrial was for showing probable cause,? said Shellig. ‘We put the (21-year-old) victim on the stand and she testified.
‘The 8-year-old also testified and those (testimonies) are what the judge bound him over for,? Shellig said.
The first felony arrest of CSC second degree is for inappropriate touching of a person under the age of 13 without injury. The second CSC third degree felony is for ‘forcible rape? or penetration against the victim’s will, without injury.
Schellig said both charges carry a potential 15-year sentence which, in this case, would be served concurrently because Cooper was not on any type of formal probation when the second offense occurred.
If the case goes to trial, Schellig said Cooper will face a jury. And if convicted Cooper will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, regardless of whether he serves a jail term.
‘We take this stuff pretty seriously,? Schellig said.
The Lapeer County circuit court pretrial for both charges is Monday, Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m.