Patrick Roy Wandahsega, Sexual Abuse of a Child, Michigan 2015

Marquette, Michigan – A 40-year-old man from Wilson, Michigan has been sentenced to 24 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a child. Patrick Roy Wandahsega, 40, was found guilty of Aggravated Sexual Contact Involving Young Children and sentenced to 288 months (24 years) of imprisonment.

The incident in question took place in December 2015 at Wandahsega’s home on the Hannahville reservation. A six-year-old child reported the abuse to relatives and a physician, prompting an investigation by the Hannahville Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After a four-day trial, a federal jury found Wandahsega guilty of the second charge.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county and tribal prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), and federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies are working together to locate and prosecute individuals who exploit children.

The Hannahville Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hannah N. Bobee and Paul D. Lochner prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney rendered the sentence.

According to U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge, the sentence demonstrates the seriousness with which the federal government views crimes against children. ‘This sentence serves as a reminder that those who harm children will be held accountable,’ Birge said.

Project Safe Childhood is a collaborative effort to educate local communities about the dangers of child exploitation and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

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