A man that received a one-year sentence for molesting a 13 year-old boy, was cut off by the judge when he took too much time to thank people that were involved in his case, as reported by the Macomb Daily.
G.D.D., 66, was sentenced in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens on August 2.
The mother of the victim was reportedly both critical and accepting of the plea deal.
When G.D.D. began making his speech, thanking several people, Judge Richard Caretti admonished him by saying, "This isn't the Academy Awards."
G.D.D. was brought to the Macomb County Jail immediately following his sentencing.
G.D.D. had originally pleaded guilty to eight counts of criminal activity: four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and four counts of possession of child pornography on his computer.
The sexual misconduct with the boy took place in G.D.D.'s home between April 1 and May 31, 2010.
The victim's mother - in wanting to avoid having her child testify, and getting a definite conviction - agreed to the plea deal that she felt was too lenient. She believed that the court put too much credence on G.D.D.'s advanced age and medical issues.
In court the mother called the case "a joke" - to which Judge Caretti told her that the case was taken with absolute seriousness.
She said to G.D.D., "What has been truly heartbreaking is the sympathy you have been shown by this court. We were pretty much forced into it (approval of the plea deal)."
Assistant Macomb prosecutor Kathy Beard said that offering a plea deal had been difficult. She would have liked to introduce two other actions - similar in nature to the current allegations - made by G.D.D.
Beard said, "I would have gone to trial all day with those witnesses. This (plea deal) was a compromise, and you're not always happy with a compromise."
In 1978 G.D.D. had been convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for child molestations.
There was no such thing as the Sexual Offender Registry in 1978 - it hadn't been created yet.
G.D.D. befriended the current victim when his neighbor, the boy's father, passed away. He asked the mother if he could be the boy's advisor and mentor as he had served youth this way in the past.
The victim's mother, thought she checked G.D.D.'s background and found nothing amiss, told the court, "He snowballed me."
G.D.D. will receive no credit for the 220 days that he has already served - and is likely looking at a year-long incarceration. After his released he wants to move to Indiana, where he has property and an adult son, and have Indiana oversee his four-year long probation.
The victim's mother plans on suing G.D.D. and giving any monetary award away to charity.
To G.D.D. she said: "Despite you and your disgusting and destructive presence in our lives, we will rise above it. My son, the man he has become despite you, will not be affected by you any longer."
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