GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Grand Rapids man has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct after police found a missing 13-year-old from Ottawa County in his apartment home in Grand Rapids.
Police said he met the girl online.
Manuel Salto, 38, asked for a court-appointed attorney after hearing the charges against him: two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving sexual penetration with a 13-year-old.
The alleged crimes happening between Nov. 1 and Dec. 5 2 at his apartment home in the 100 block of National Avenue SW in Grand Rapids.
Detectives testified that they had found the teen by going through her phone records. When they went to check the apartment, they said they found her.
Documents show detectives discovered that she met Salto about a month ago online and had been staying with him off and on.
Investigators said Salto entered into a sexual relationship with her and admitted to having sex with her as many as six times.
Detectives also stated that the alleged victim may be pregnant with his child.
A neighbor who didn’t want to appear on camera said he saw police swoop in on the home Thursday to arrest Salto.
He said he watched the young girl walk out and he said it didn’t look like she was crying or upset at the time.
He said she just looked like a normal teen as officials led her out. The judge noted that this isn’t the first time Salto had been arrested for criminal sexual conduct. He is currently on probation for a 2012 criminal sexual conduct conviction.
Court documents show he was convicted of criminal sexual conduct with a 10-year-old girl when he lived on Chicago Drive SW in Wyoming.
Police said the victim was his live-in girlfriend’s daughter and he was accused of touching her in appropriately.
In an affidavit from March 2012, police said he didn’t admit to criminal sexual conduct, but did say he touched the girl.
Police also said he told the child to get under a blanket with him and then touched her.
Salto was eventually convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and was listed on the sex offender registry.
He is currently on probation for that crime.
Because of that prior conviction, the court services representative recommended a strict bond. They also said he was a flight risk.
Bond was then set at $100,000. Salto’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 18.
