Bellaire man faces sexual assault charges in Calhoun, Allegan counties

A 58-year-old Bellaire man alleged to have sexually assaulted a relative repeatedly over an eight-year period now faces criminal charges in two counties.

John Hendrickson has been charged with five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in Calhoun County and faces three additional counts in Allegan County for alleged assaults in the home and his vehicle, in the village of Leroy and the city of Allegan. Each count is a life-sentence offense.

The charges stem from alleged assaults that happened from 1999 to 2007, when the victim was aged 9 to 15.

Hendrickson was arraigned on five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct Thursday afternoon in Calhoun County District Court. He remains lodged at the Calhoun County jail on a $25,000 bond.

Hendrickson has yet to be arraigned on the three remaining counts in Allegan County, per online court records.

“I am grateful for the courage of the victim who came forward, years after suffering multiple alleged assaults, to pursue accountability for her attacker,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “These charges reflect the significant harm inflicted throughout her childhood. I hope all victims of childhood sexual assault know my department is available to them, to be heard in a victim-centered and trauma-informed way, and that criminal charges remain possible even years after the criminal activity transpired.”

Anyone with additional information on Hendrickson is encouraged to call the Michigan State Police Post in Gaylord at (989) 732-2778.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Bellaire man faces sexual assault charges in Calhoun, Allegan counties