Utica

Police arrest incest suspect

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

UTICA — A 43-year-old La Porte, Ind., man turned himself in Sept. 2 after the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office authorized incest charges against him for allegedly having sex with his 16-year-old daughter.

“He was having sex with his 16-year-old daughter at various Utica hotels,” said Detective Sgt. David Faber. “He would come up to visit for the weekend and spend that all in hotels in Utica.”

Faber said the girl lives in Clinton Township with her mother, who contacted Utica police for help.

“She … stumbled across something on the computer and questioned her (daughter) about it, and that’s how it got turned over to us,” he said.

Faber said the department tracked at least three visits — dating back to late 2009 — by the suspect, Ronald Sowards, to the area.

“We conducted an investigation and presented it to the prosecutor’s office, who authorized the warrant, made contact with his attorney, and he turned himself in to us,” Faber said.

Sowards is being held on a $75,000 cash surety bond following his arraignment in front of Magistrate Michael Osaer. If convicted, he faces 15 years in prison.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1041.