By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR — A Taylor man faced with dozens of charges in the sexual assaults of four teen girls ages 13 to 15 waived his right to a preliminary hearing and will be tried in Wayne County Circuit Court.
Bennie Ray Grimes, 67, faces life in prison if convicted of any of the multiple first-degree felony sex assault charges that had been first filed in 23rd District Court. Grimes is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Circuit Court.
Grimes appeared last week before 23rd District Court Judge William Sutherland, who confirmed agreement by defense counsel and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office to continue the case in Detroit. According to court records, charges against Grimes include 15 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct — punishable by life in prison — along with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, seven counts of child sexually abusive commercial activity and five counts of using a computer to commit a crime.
Police and prosecutors said many of the allegations involved girls ages 13 to 16; three of the first-degree CSC charges involve a person under the age of 13. The investigation began in early April, when Melvindale police received a complaint from one of the alleged victims. Prosecutors allege that Grimes had sexually assaulted, photographed and videotaped four teen girls in his Taylor home on Beech Daly Road.
Allegations against Grimes include federal charges of producing and possessing child pornography. Court records indicate the crimes may have begun in 2011. Reportedly, Grimes met the teens through a relative.
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)