Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced the sentencing of Dustin Lee Sutton, 34, to 6-15 years in prison for sexual assaults against a minor that occurred over a decade ago. Sutton, formerly from Cadillac and recently residing in Washington State, was sentenced on Monday as part of Operation Survivor Justice.

In 2014, Sutton, then aged 23, stayed overnight at relatives' home in Manton during a brief visit to Michigan. He sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl multiple times during his stay. The victim reported the abuse in 2015 after Sutton had moved to Yakima, WA. The Michigan State Police investigated and filed charges that year; however, he was not extradited immediately. In December 2024, Sutton was arrested and extradited from Washington to Wexford County by the U.S. Marshals Service under Operation Survivor Justice. On June 6, he pled guilty to three counts of Third-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct before the Wexford County's 28th Circuit Court.

“Operation Survivor Justice is delivering justice for victims here in Michigan and taking known sexual offenders out of communities all across the country,” stated Nessel. “I am grateful to our partners in Wexford County, the Michigan State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service for their dedicated efforts to bring about justice for this victim, who had to wait much too long to see this day in court.”

The now-adult victim provided an impact statement prior to Monday’s sentencing: “I have spent a decade trying to heal myself without answers... I feel sick to my stomach still thinking of him touching my body and not being able to protect myself.” She added: “People like this are a danger to society and children especially... It saddens me that these things still continue to happen.”

Operation Survivor Justice is an initiative between the Michigan Department of Attorney General, local county prosecutors, and the U.S. Marshals Service aimed at locating and returning fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants back to Michigan.