Spaulding Township Man’s First-Degree Sexual Assaults Conviction Upheld by Michigan Court of Appeals

Alfred Harris Jr., a former Spaulding Township man who is now 42 years old, was convicted on 14 counts including three counts of second-degree CSC and eleven counts of first-degree CSC by a jury in August of 2011. Harris was sentenced to 18 years plus in prison.

Harris appealed his conviction on the basis that there was not sufficient evidence to show that he was living in the home with the alleged victim, which was the reason he was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Had Harris not lived in the home, the charges would have been third-degree, resulting in a lighter sentence. However, appellate judges Jane Markey, Michael Kelly, and David Sawyer felt that there was sufficient evidence to show that Harris did live in the home.

An Mlive.com news article from August of 2011 indicates that Harris allegedly assaulted a teenage boy who lived in the home 14 times. The assaults took place in Saginaw Township between September and November of 2009.

The appellate judges wrote that the defendant did live in the home for approximately two months, and that he ate meals and had clothes there. Additionally, testimony from witnesses indicated that Harris was staying in the victim’s bedroom at one point, and that the boy saw Harris as a father figure. The judges went on to day that, “In other words, Harris was not just a person who slept on the couch.”

Harris remains in the Saginaw Correctional Facility, where he will spend 18 years and nine months to 40 years. His earliest possible release date is February of 2029. Should Harris remain incarcerated for 40 years, he will be 80 upon completion of his sentence.

As Michigan criminal appeal attorneys, we realize that those convicted on charges of sexual assault, rape, and other sex-related crimes face serious and often life-changing consequences. Substantial prison time and being labeled a sex offender for life are two of the penalties many face. Frequently, careers, futures, and lives are ruined forever. Depending on the facts of the case, it may be possible to have your conviction overturned.


If you feel that justice was not served, consult with a capable and aggressive Michigan post-conviction defense lawyer who will review your case to determine if you may have grounds for an appeal.

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