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2 Mecosta Co. Township Officials Charged With Multiple Sexual Assaults

Posted at 9:24 PM, Aug 08, 2013
and last updated 2013-08-08 21:44:12-04

MECOSTA COUNTY, Mich. — Two Fork Township officials have been charged with a total of 16 charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for alleged assaults against two sisters related to one of the suspects, according to Mecosta County officials.

Fork Township Supervisor Jack Bark Sr., 70, and township Clerk Cathleen Martin, 47, were arrested this week after one of the victims contacted a school official, Detective Sgt. Casey Nemeth with the sheriff’s department said.

Bark is charged with eight counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct against a child under 13.

Martin, who is related to the victims, is also charged with eight counts of first-degree and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Neither suspect has a prior record and hadn’t been suspected before a victim came forward.  They are both currently being held in Mecosta County Jail on a $5 million bond.