(COLDWATER) - Dennis Lee Ferris, 70, of Quincy was arraigned Tuesday in Branch County District Court on multiple felony charges involving the sexual abuse of a child.
Ferris faces three counts of first-degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, each involving a victim under the age of 13. The alleged incidents occurred in June 2021 in Butler Township, when the child was reportedly six or seven years old.
According to court records, Ferris is accused of luring the child with gifts, showing pornographic material, and engaging in sexual contact.
Prosecutors charged Ferris as a third-offense habitual offender, citing two prior third-degree Criminal Sexual Conduct convictions in Calhoun County dating back to 1998. The current charges are classified as Tier III offenses under Michigan law and carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted, along with lifetime electronic monitoring.
District Court Judge Brent Weigle set bond at $500,000 and ordered Ferris to have no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with minors.
A preliminary examination is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2026.