HOUGHTON LAKE – A Mexican man in the U.S. illegally has been charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct.
The Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office recently launched an investigation into the sexual assaults, which allegedly occurred in Roscommon Township..
According the a statement from Roscommon County Undersheriff Ben Lowe, authorities discovered that several adult males had been communicating with multiple teenage females from the Houghton Lake area. Federal law enforcement, including the U.S. Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations were contacted to assist.
On the evening of April 25, search warrants were executed at multiple properties in Roscommon Township and Houghton Lake.
During the searches, six individuals were located. Three were found to be residing illegally in the United States. Two were turned over to federal authorities at the scene.
The third, 33-year-old Leocado Hernandez-Garcia, was arrested and is currently lodged in the Roscommon County Jail. Hernandez-Garcia was arraigned on April 28 in 82nd District Court on five counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Hernandez-Garcia had previously been deported from the United States in 2014 and again expelled under Title 42 in 2023. He later reentered the country without inspection at an unknown date and location.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation is ongoing.
Supporting agencies included the United States Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Gerrish Township Police Department, Richfield Township Department of Public Safety, and Roscommon Township Fire Department.
