GAYLORD - Vincent LaRosa II will spend a minimum of one year and three months to a maximum of three years in prison after he was sentenced Thursday on three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC).

    46th Circuit Court Judge Janet Allen sentenced the 59-year-old Gaylord man to up to two years on two counts of fourth-degree CSC, victim between 13-16, and up to three years on one count of  fourth-degree CSC, victim between 13-16, an enhanced sentence for habitual offender second-degree.

    The habitual offender status is the result of a 1982 conviction against LaRosa for assault with intent to commit second-degree CSC.

    In exchange for LaRosa’s no contest plea to the charges last month, Allen dismissed two counts of fourth-degree CSC and three counts of second-degree CSC.

    Otsego County prosecutor Kyle Legel said prior to sentencing, LaRosa’s attorney Kevin Hesselink read a prepared statement written by his client.

    “In the statement, he basically apologized for his actions and said he took ownership for what he had done,” Legel said. “He indicated that he is in therapy and is learning about his behavior and how to correct it. He asked the court to fashion a sentence that would allow him to continue his current therapy.”

    Legel said both LaRosa and his attorney were prepared in advance of sentencing that the Gaylord man would likely serve some prison time.

    “Prison was appropriate in this case,” Legel said. “I asked for the maximum of 21 months for the minimum time serve, but the sentence did fall within sentencing guidelines, so it was appropriate.”

    The charges stemmed from incidents involving three male victims who were under the age of 16 when the crimes were committed May to December 1998; January to August 2003; and Nov. 7 to December 2007 at LaRosa’s Bagley Township residence.

    Legel said fourth-degree CSC involves sexual contact of touching but with no penetration. According to Legel, LaRosa had befriended his victims and had done things which benefited the families of those victims.

    Legel said no family members addressed the court at LaRosa’s sentencing but had earlier submitted victim impact statements to Judge Allen. The statements were not read at sentencing.

    On a number of occasions LaRosa’s victims had spent the night at his Bagley Township residence where the incidents occurred, according to Legel.

    After sentencing, LaRosa was remanded to the Otsego County Jail where he is lodged while awaiting transport to a Michigan Department of Corrections facility in Jackson for intake and processing.

    The Gaylord Michigan State Police post investigated the original complaint against LaRosa.

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