Kent County Commissioner Booked in Jail for Alleged CSC

Kent County Commissioner Gary Rolls – Nov. 21 Booking Photo

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A county commissioner was booked Thursday at the Kent County Jail prior to being formally charged with criminal sexual conduct.

Kent County Commissioner Gary Rolls, who represents Oakfield, Cannon, Grattan and Vergennes Townships, is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman when she was a child.

The alleged victim, who is now an adult, filed a personal protection order against Rolls in September 2012, claiming rolls had molested her as a little girl.  She said Rolls was a family friend who started touching her inappropriately when she was nine years old, according to court documents.  She claims that escalated to sex, which continued for several years after that.  There were also claims of verbal and physical abuse, and threats on her life if she ever told anyone anything.

Ionia County Prosecutor Ronald Schafer said Thursday he was asked to come to Kent County as special counsel because there was a conflict of interest with the Kent County prosecutor’s office.

In January, a FOX 17 investigation revealed Rolls had missed Kent County commission meetings following the sexual assault allegations.