Vincent Allen Payne, a 60-year-old resident of Valrico, Florida, was sentenced to 19 to 30 years in prison after being convicted by a Hillsdale County jury of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The sentencing was handed down by Judge Sara S. Lisznyai of the 1st Circuit Court. Payne was found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor relative between 2004 and 2008 while living in the same home in the city of Hillsdale. The victim was under the age of 15 at the time.
Payne had been charged by the Hillsdale County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in January 2010. He was extradited to Hillsdale County last year by the U.S. Marshals Service as part of Operation Survivor Justice, an initiative that involves cooperation between the Michigan Department of Attorney General, local county prosecutors, and federal authorities to locate and return fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants.
“My office, and prosecutors across the State, are able to secure accountability for sexual predators through our continued efforts under Operation Survivor Justice,” said Attorney General Dana Nessel. “I am grateful for the tireless work of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Hillsdale County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the dedicated prosecutors in my office that brought about justice for this victim, so many years after her assault.”
The Michigan Department of Attorney General works on initiatives such as combating human trafficking and supporting vulnerable populations throughout Michigan (official website). The department also focuses on public service and protection for state residents (official website). Dana Nessel is serving as Michigan’s 54th attorney general (official website), leading statewide efforts to safeguard citizens (official website). In addition to law enforcement actions like Operation Survivor Justice, the department has influenced policy reforms such as drafting expungement opportunities through laws like Clean Slate in 2019 (official website).
