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Man takes plea deal in Kent Co. child molestation case

Posted at 12:00 PM, Feb 09, 2015
and last updated 2015-02-09 12:01:15-05
Jerry Eastman

Jerry Eastman

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A 56-year-old man faces at least 7 years behind bars after taking a plea deal in a molestation case involving him, his wife and a child relative.

According to the office of Judge Mark Trusock, Jerry Merle Eastman pleaded no contest Monday to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

He and his wife, 60-year-old Kathy Sue Eastman, were arrested in August 2014 and accused of molesting a relative from the time they were 4 years old until they were a teenager.   Other relatives also came forward with molestation accusations.

Kathy Eastman was taken off life support and died Sept. 7 after going into  cardiac arrest and suffering a brain aneurysm.

Jerry Eastman will be sentenced March 12 at 1 p.m.

Kathy Sue Eastman

Kathy Sue Eastman