Sturgis, MI – A 57-year-old Sturgis man is now facing multiple life-felony charges after Michigan State Police and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office say forensic evidence backed up disturbing allegations of years-long sexual abuse against his own adopted child.
Raymond Bontrager was formally arraigned in St. Joseph County 3B District Court and charged with one count of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct involving a victim under 13, four counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct involving a domestic or custodial relationship, and one count of Aggravated Indecent Exposure.
Raymond Bontrager – Criminal Charges
- First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
Victim under 13 years old, defendant over 17
Mandatory minimum 25 years prison, up to life - First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
Custodial or household relationship
Maximum life in prison - First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
Custodial or household relationship
Maximum life in prison - First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
Custodial or household relationship
Maximum life in prison - First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct
Custodial or household relationship
Maximum life in prison - Aggravated Indecent Exposure
High-court misdemeanor
Up to 2 years in jail
According to St. Joseph County Prosecutor Deborah Davis, the victim-under-13 charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted. All of the first-degree CSC charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, require mandatory electronic monitoring, and trigger registration under Michigan’s Sex Offender Registration Act. The indecent exposure charge is a high-court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison and also requires sex offender registration. Prosecutors say the CSC counts may also be sentenced consecutively, meaning any prison terms could be stacked.
Investigators allege Bontrager sexually assaulted his adopted daughter from 2016 through 2025, beginning when the girl was just 6 years old. The abuse allegedly continued until last summer, when the now-15-year-old disclosed what had been happening to a trusted adult.
Michigan State Police were contacted and immediately opened an investigation. The child was taken to a local hospital the same day and underwent a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination. Prosecutors say forensic testing later identified male DNA from the victim’s body that was consistent with the reported assaults, which led investigators to submit the case for criminal charges.
A St. Joseph County magistrate set Bontrager’s bond at $50,000. Court records show he bonded out Sunday evening. A pre-exam conference is scheduled for Feb. 17, with a preliminary examination set for Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. before Judge Jeffrey Middleton.
Prosecutor Davis reminded the public that Bontrager is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court, but emphasized the importance of protecting victims and reporting abuse quickly so evidence can be preserved and offenders held accountable.
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