KENT COUNTY, Mich. (May 13, 2014) — Former Kent County Commissioner Gary Rolls pleaded guilty Tuesday to a criminal sex charge and evidence tampering.
Rolls, 47, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, evidence tampering and illegal use of a computer, according to Kent County Circuit Court officials.
The former commissioner initially faced four charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, evidence tampering and using a computer to commit a crime.
He was accused of molesting a Muskegon woman from when she was 9-years-old until the age of 23. She filed a protection order against Rolls in September 2012.
According to MLive, Rolls’ attorney claimed that the alleged victim lied repeatedly about details in the case, including her age and when incidents between her and Rolls occurred.
MLive also reports that the woman claimed Rolls sent her photos of mutilated female genitals in 1996, but that his attorney claims tests done on those photos by the prosecution show the earliest date the photo paper could have been created was 2004.
Rolls was also accused of using a remote command from a different computer to erase evidence from his iPad after Michigan State Police started investigating him.
