Man on probation for groping hospital patient is accused of having sex with underage girl

Kennedy

Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies said Kennedy is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl he was dating between June 1 and November 15 at a home near Mary Catherine Street and Jeff Avenue in Ypsilanti Township. Kennedy was 17 for much of that time. In Michigan, the legal age of consent is 16.

Investigators have been seeking Kennedy since Dec. 2 when a bench warrant was issued after he failed to check in with a probation officer in Washtenaw County.

The warrant was issued two-and-a-half weeks after Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris sentenced Kennedy to 6 months in jail and five years probation for groping a female patient at 9:40 p.m. Aug. 20 while she was hospitalized with broken bones.

Morris agreed to let Kennedy start serving his jail term on weekends. She gave him an opportunity to show he could land a job or become a full-time student and she said she would consider shortening his jail term. Under the agreement, Kennedy was required to abide by the conditions of probation.

However, court records say Kennedy did not check in with a probation officer after being released from jail on Nov. 21.

In addition to being convicted last fall of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion, Kennedy was convicted of third-degree home invasion in 2008 in Wayne County.

Each count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable upon conviction by up to 15 years in prison.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.