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Suspect charged in 1978 sex assault investigation

Posted at 1:11 PM, May 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-05 13:11:01-04

MECOSTA COUNTY – Deputies with the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office announced charges against a 67-year-old Illinois man following a four-year investigation into alleged sexual assault crimes dating back to 1978.

James Lamson was extradited from Illinois where he was in custody on an unrelated criminal sexual conduct conviction in 1985.

He’s facing two felony counts of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct following an alleged incident that happened while he was visiting relatives in Big Rapids Township in 1978.

Deputies say Lamson is accused of sexually assaulting three of his relatives.  The victims in the case were all under the age of 13 at the time of the alleged crimes.

Deputies say the victims reported the crimes to the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office in 2011 after seeing the investigation unfold against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.  The victims told investigators they felt they had a moral responsibility to report the alleged crimes involving Lamson.

Investigators say they’ve spent the last three years processing court documents and Governor’s warrants to see the case against Lamson prosecuted in Michigan.

On Monday, Lamson was given a $3,000,000 bond and remains in custody at the Mecosta County Jail.  He’s scheduled to appear for a court hearing on May 12.