Soo man sentenced for years of ‘extremely predatory conduct’ against grandchild

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (WJMN) — A grandfather from the eastern Upper Peninsula was sentenced to years in prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to charges related to sexually abusing a grandchild.

The information comes from Chippewa County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Stratton, who said 85-year-old Joseph Aloysius Nolan Jr. was ordered to serve a minimum of about six years to a maximum of 15 years behind bars—the harshest possible sentence allowed by state law.

Nolan previously pled guilty to to three felony counts including one count of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Fourth Degree.

The investigation began after a mandatory reporter alerted police to the signs of abuse and the victim told detectives in law enforcement about what prosecutors described as “extreme predatory conduct” that continued over years, including efforts to groom the victim and concoct ways to ensure the victim was alone.

“It wasn’t until the impact of what was happening got to the point that the victim’s mental health had deteriorated significantly that a disclosure was finally made to a counsellor,” said Stratton. “It took incredible courage for the victim to not only make these disclosures, but to endure the four-year court process that followed. The Court heard from the victim herself, who showed tremendous strength as she disclosed the significant trauma Mr. Nolan had caused, and that the simple ‘I am sorry for my actions’ statement Mr. Nolan made to the Court would never be enough.”

Sault Ste. Marie Police Chief Wesley Bierling lauded Detective/Sergeant Kristin Autore’s work on the case saying, “Detective Autore did an exemplary job of taking a tip and working with the victim to build a rapport to the point that she was comfortable making a disclosure, and because of the victim’s courage, another predator is off the street.”

Victims and concerned individuals can get in touch with an advocate or resources from the state’s Sexual Assault Hotline website , or call them at 1-855-864-2374 or text them at 1-866-238-1454.

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