James Carter, 63, formerly of Prescott and most recently living in Georgia, was sentenced on Apr. 23 to between 35 and 45 years in prison by Judge Sara Lisznyai of the 1st Circuit Court in Hillsdale County. The sentencing follows Carter’s conviction by a Hillsdale County jury on February 4 for four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes related to incidents that occurred in 2008.
The case highlights the ongoing impact that sexual assault has on survivors and the efforts made by law enforcement agencies to pursue justice even after many years have passed. The prosecution underscores the determination of authorities to address unresolved cases involving serious offenses against minors.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said at the time of conviction, “Sexual assault survivors carry the impact of these crimes for their entire lives, and seeking justice nearly two decades later takes extraordinary courage.” Nessel continued, “I am proud of the work my office and our Operation Survivor Justice partners have done to secure this conviction, and we will continue working alongside them to hold offenders accountable.”
Carter was initially charged by the Hillsdale County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in August 2011. He was arraigned and extradited back to Hillsdale County in March 2025 by the U.S. Marshals Service as part of Operation Survivor Justice. This initiative is a collaboration between the Michigan Department of Attorney General, local county prosecutors, and federal marshals aimed at locating fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants.
The outcome reflects ongoing efforts among state agencies and law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes are brought before Michigan courts regardless of where they may be found.