Two men charged in hot tub assault that left women with ripped bikini, bruises
Michigan News
By Tanda Gmiter
16 August 2017

A picture of one of the victim's faces after she was assaulted while sitting in a hot tub on July 15.   Courtesy photo

LEELANAU COUNTY, MI - Two men have been charged with misdemeanor assault after police say three young women were physically attacked for being in a condo development's hot tub.

the men mistakenly thought the women were trespassing

A police report showed the men mistakenly thought the women were trespassing, when they were actually there as guests of a resident.

The encounter early July 15 turned violent after a 68-year-old man tried to remove one of the three young women from the hot tub, yanking her bathing suit top so hard the strap broke, according to the police report. The two other women, who tried to help their friend, were punched in the mouth and kicked in the side, they told police.

On Tuesday, Aug. 15. James Richards and Larry Dean, 68, of Suttons Bay,  were in 86th District Court for an arraignment hearing, according to online court records. Richards, who listed a Florida address as well as a local one, pleaded not guilty to two counts of misdemeanor assault, while Dean pleaded not guilty to three counts of the crime, according to the 9&10 news station.

The victims were identified earlier as as a 22-year-old from Riley who had injuries to her mouth area; a Byron Center woman, 25, who had injuries from being kicked in the side; and a 23-year-old from Port Huron, Mi, who had scratches on her body and a torn suit.

The assaults occurred just after midnight last month in the Bayview Condos.

The three victims told police that when they got into the hot tub, other women they did not know where there at the time. When a man walked  by the hot tub and told everyone to leave, the three victims stayed while the other women left.

The victims told officers Dean arrived a short time later and began assaulting them.

Dean, a condo board member ... said he'd hit one woman in the face with an open hand, but later admitted the woman might say he'd hit her with a closed fist

He later told police he did not know the three women were staying in a condo recently purchased by a new owner. Dean, a condo board member, told police there had been previous problems with strangers trespassing in the hot tub area and staying after hours.

When questioned by police, Dean said he'd hit one woman in the face with an open hand, but later admitted the woman might say he'd hit her with a closed fist, according to the report. He described forcing one woman out of the area using a "bear hug," and could not remember whether he'd kicked anyone.

Other adults were nearby but did not help

Other adults were nearby but did not help, one victim told MLive.

When the women told another man they needed help, "He responded by yelling, 'You girls don't need help, you need to be f---ing quiet,' and then proceeded (to) violently swat his hand at my friend who was recording," the encounter on her phone, the woman said.


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