GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A 32-year-old man is facing multiple sexual assault charges after allegedly grooming and assaulting a 13-year-old.
According to Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, Bay City resident Brian Scott McCarrick infiltrated the child’s social circle and had been facilitating meetings unknown to the parents. The assaults came to light when the 13-year-old’s mother reportedly checked on their child and found the bedroom window open and the suspect running away.
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Swanson said McCarrick began speaking with the child and her friends and would drop off phones to communicate with them. He allegedly would pick her up from the middle school parking lot and take her to and from the bus stop.
Multiple assaults reportedly occurred.
When the parent saw the suspect running away, she called 911 and officers with the Grand Blanc Township Police Department showed up. While they weren’t able to find him, they were able to track him down using the phone that was left with the victim.
“He went into an environment searching for prey. He was a handyman at this location. He saw this young victim and befriended them. That’s when grooming starts,” Swanson said. “They find what they want and then they go after it, and then they start communicating. And then they start separating and isolating. And then they start showing and filling needs of different individuals.”
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Grand Blanc schools, police and Bay City police to investigate and arrest McCarrick, who was taken into custody just before Christmas. He has been charged with 11 felonies, including nine counts of criminal sexual conduct.
“As a parent myself, I can’t imagine when you have your child in your home and you think it is the safest place, that the predators will still come to your home,” Swanson said. “You and I may be on winter break, but predators have no break. They do not quit.”
Swanson urged parents to speak with their children about the dangers of predators and that awareness is one of the best ways of preventing assaults.
Officials believe there may be other victims. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at 810-257-3422.
