CADILLAC — Michael Burch, 34, was sentenced to 38 to 60 months in prison for the 2015 sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl while she slept in a camper in Cadillac.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Jason Elmore of the 28th Circuit Court in Wexford County, following Burch’s guilty plea to attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct in November. The case had remained in warrant status for years, as Burch fled the state before charges were filed.
Burch was arrested in January 2025 by the U.S. Marshals in Indiana as part of Operation Survivor Justice, a collaborative effort involving the Michigan Department of Attorney General to apprehend fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants. This initiative aims to ensure that offenders are held accountable, no matter how long it takes.
In his victim impact statement presented to the court, the survivor expressed resilience despite the trauma. The statement read, in part, “I still struggle with physical touch, with being places alone, with sleeping; but I want you to know that you didn’t ruin my family. You didn’t ruin me. We are happy. We have good lives. I’m glad to say that I can finally put this behind me. You finally took accountability for what you did – not only to me, but for all the other people you have done this to. Although I know that this is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life, I can finally breathe. No more worrying if you are out there doing this to another family. No more wondering how you got away with this.”
Dana Nessel, the Michigan Attorney General, highlighted the significance of the sentencing, stating, “Through Operation Survivor Justice and because of the courage of the victim in this case, this offender has been held accountable for this heinous assault. It is my hope that this sentence brings some closure to the survivor who has carried this trauma for far too long and reassurance that even years later, justice can still be achieved.”In addition to his prison sentence, Burch is ordered to register for lifetime monitoring under the Sex Offender Registry.
Burch will face lifetime registration with the Sex Offender Registry and will also be subject to lifetime electronic monitoring following his release. This sentence aims to provide some assurance to the victims and the community that justice has been served.