Ex-Grace Baptist School teacher sentenced for sex crimes

GAYLORD — A former Gaylord-area teacher was sentenced recently in a case involving the sexual assault of two students.

According to the Michigan State Police, detectives from the Gaylord Post were contacted in 2018 by two former students at Grace Baptist School in Gaylord alleging they were sexually assaulted by one of their teachers. The assaults took place in 2002 and 2003.

The victims identified the former teacher as Aaron Michael Willand, now 45. Willand worked for the Grace Baptist School from August 2001 until June 2003 before moving out of state. The victims were 12 and 14 years old at the time the alleged assaults took place.

In 2019, then Otsego County Prosecuting Attorney Brendan Curran reviewed the case and arrest warrants were authorized. Willand, who now resides in Arlington, Washington, returned to Michigan in 2019 and turned himself in.

He was arraigned in the 87th District Court in Otsego County and was charged with eight counts criminal sexual conduct (CSC) Third Degree (Person 13-15), a felony punishable by 15 years and mandatory AIDS/STD testing. This is also a Tier III Sex Offender Registration Act; four counts CSC Second Degree (Person Under 13, defendant 17 years of age or older), a felony punishable by 15 years and mandatory AIDS/STD testing, this is also a Tier III Sex Offender Registration; three counts CSC Fourth Degree (Victim between 13-16), a high court misdemeanor two years and/or $500 and mandatory HIV/STD testing, this is also a Tier II Sex Offender Registration. Willand was released on $20,000 or 10 percent cash bond.

Willand was sentenced recently in the Otsego County 46th Circuit Court by Judge George Mertz. For count one criminal sexual conduct first degree victim under 13, 135 months to 40 years; for count two criminal sexual conduct second degree, 57 months to 15 years; for count three CSC third degree, 85 months to 15 years, and for count four CSC fourth degree, 17 months to two years. The sentences will run concurrently.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Ex-Grace Baptist School teacher sentenced for sex crimes