28-year-old Kaitlyn Lee Sand of Three Rivers, Michigan is facing a series of felony charges after investigators say she sexually assaulted underage students she first met through her job. Prosecutors allege Sand then used social media to repeatedly contact the minors and arrange encounters that led to criminal sexual conduct.
Sand was working at Mendon Middle/High School in St. Joseph County as a contracted food service employee when the alleged incidents took place. According to court filings, the assaults occurred between February and April 2023 in both Mendon and Three Rivers. Officials say the victims were students, one between the ages of 13 and 15, and another under the age of 18.
The Charges Filed
Sand has been charged with multiple counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC), along with an additional felony for tampering with evidence. The breakdown includes:
Two counts of First-Degree CSC with a student ages 13–15
• The most serious charge under Michigan law, punishable by up to life in prison.
Two counts of Third-Degree CSC with a student under 18
• Felonies punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
One count of Second-Degree CSC with a student ages 13–15
• Felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
One count of Fourth-Degree CSC with a student under 18
• High-court misdemeanor, up to 2 years in prison.
One count of Tampering with Evidence
• Felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison.
In total, Sand faces seven felony charges and one high-court misdemeanor.
Investigation and Employment
The Mendon Police Department is leading the investigation, with charges filed September 29, 2025 through the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. Officials confirmed Sand is no longer employed with Chartwells, the private food service company that contracted her to the school. Mendon school officials have not commented beyond confirming her status as a non-district employee.
The Legal Reality
If convicted on all counts, Sand could face life in prison plus decades more on additional charges. Even on the lowest counts, she faces the possibility of several years behind bars.
Prosecutors stressed that Sand remains innocent until proven guilty in court, and her case will move forward in St. Joseph County’s Circuit Court.
