Great Lakes Wire

Last Friday, Trentin McWilliams, a 23-year-old man from Norway, Michigan, who recently resided in California, was ordered to stand trial in the 41st Circuit Court in Dickinson County. He faces seven felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting two minors on different occasions. McWilliams was extradited to Dickinson County in September by the U.S. Marshals Service as part of Operation Survivor Justice.

The accusations against McWilliams include sexually assaulting a child at a relative’s residence in 2018. In July 2024, he was charged with one count of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and one count of Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes by the Department of Attorney General. Additionally, the Dickinson County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged him in February 2024 with three counts of Third-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and two counts of Fourth-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in a vehicle in October 2022.

Funding for McWilliams’ extradition came from a recently announced $1 million state appropriation to support Operation Survivor Justice. This initiative is a collaboration between the Michigan Department of Attorney General, local county prosecutors, and the U.S. Marshals Service aimed at locating and apprehending fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants and returning them to Michigan.

"Operation Survivor Justice is already having a profound impact across Michigan and the nation," stated Nessel. "Through our partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, we’ve successfully ensured a number of individuals accused of sexual assault are facing justice in court."

A pretrial date has not yet been set.

For all criminal proceedings, it is important to note that a criminal charge is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Department does not provide booking photos.