The crimes, which were dismissed by prosecutors before the court proceeding, allegedly took place between February and April.
Police allege Gilbert, 44, sent the girl pictures of his genitals and obtained pictures of the teen without clothing, leading the Kent County Prosecutor to authorize a charge of using a computer to commit a crime as well as engaging the services of a prostitute. In court documents, police say Crystal Jean Branning, 20, was hoping to make money by arranging the sexual encounter between Gilbert and the teen and use the money to pay fines.
She was on probation for retail fraud in Grandville and violated her parole on July Related: Man and woman team up to try to entice year-old girl into sex for money scheme, police say. Several people representing themselves as friends of Gilbert contend the former defendant was set up by Branning and the teen. The father of the alleged victim was told to keep the girl in state, but instead the girl has left the jurisdiction, perhaps staying in Louisiana, according to prosecutors.
Gilbert was charged with the crimes in August and faced as much as four years in jail if convicted, prior to the case being dismissed Wednesday. Bramble said charges could be reinstated if the alleged victim is located and returned to Michigan. E-mail Barton Deiters: bdeiters mlive. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. Grand Rapids Teen moves out of state, leaves prosecutor with no victim in alleged sex for money scheme Published: Oct.
By Barton Deiters bdeiters mlive. Crystal Jean Branning.
