NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. — Former Big Rapids Police Officer Ryan Dornbos rejected a plea offer on Monday, meaning he will go to trial. The prosecutor in the case said in court on Monday that they would not be offering any more plea deals.
Dornbos is accused of sexually abusing a young family member between the years of 2018 and 2023 while he worked as a police officer for the City of Newaygo and in Big Rapids.
The offer Dornbos turned down on Monday would have been for one count of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree with a specific sentence of ten years. In exchange, the prosecution was willing to drop a second count of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree as well as a charge of aggravated stalking in a separate case.
The aggravated stalking charge is in relation to accusations that Dornbos texted the victim's mother using a new phone number. Dornbos denies that accusation.
By rejecting the plea, Dornbos will be facing both counts of criminal sexual conduct in court, each charge carries a minimum 25 year sentence. The two sentences would be served consecutively.
The trial date is currently set for January 27 at 8:30 a.m.