Wykoff Gets 42 Months for Repeated Abuse

MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN – Justin Ryan Wykoff, 28, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, will spend the next 42 months in federal prison after being sentenced for repeatedly assaulting a woman, U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles announced today. Wykoff’s pattern of abuse didn’t stop with a single incident; it’s a documented history of violence against the same victim.

U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney didn’t mince words when handing down the sentence. In addition to the prison term, Wykoff will face three years of supervised release upon his eventual release. The charge stems from a brutal assault last December in the parking lot of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Health Center. A concerned citizen witnessed the attack and immediately contacted the Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Police, setting the wheels of justice in motion.

This wasn’t Wykoff’s first rodeo. Court records reveal a disturbing pattern. He’d already been convicted of domestic violence offenses against the same woman – twice – on May 22, 2015, and September 2, 2015, in Chippewa County’s 91st District Court. Judge Maloney specifically highlighted the deeply damaging physical and psychological abuse Wykoff inflicted on his victim during the sentencing hearing. The judge clearly saw a calculated pattern of control and violence.

The case took a complex turn when Wykoff initially pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge in tribal court for the same December incident. However, a conviction in tribal court doesn’t automatically shield an individual from federal prosecution. After careful consultation with tribal authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office decided to pursue federal charges alongside the tribal court proceedings, demonstrating a commitment to holding abusers accountable on multiple fronts.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Sault Ste. Marie Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, showcasing a collaborative approach to tackling domestic violence in the region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D. Lochner skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting the evidence that led to Wykoff’s conviction and subsequent sentencing. This case serves as a stark reminder that domestic violence is a serious federal crime with severe consequences.

Wykoff’s sentencing sends a clear message: habitual offenders who prey on their partners will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on other instances of violence and abuse in the federal system. The victim’s safety and well-being remain paramount, and resources are available for those experiencing domestic violence.