LANSING, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – The Michigan Supreme Court has denied Jayme Lynn LaPoint’s Application for Leave to Appeal which affirms her conviction for first degree criminal sexual conduct and subsequent prison sentence of 25 years to 50 years
She entered a guilty plea to the first degree C.S.C. charge in a case filed in July 2018 by the Branch County Prosecutors office involving a two-year-old girl she was babysitting. Three other charges were dismissed by prosecutors in exchange for the guilty plea.
Evidence of these charges arose during an investigation into a conspiracy to kidnap, rape, kill, and mutilate a child at a cabin in Northern Michigan. During that investigation, evidence was discovered that LaPoint sexually assaulted an infant child, while videotaping herself doing so. She then distributed that recording to her boyfriend.
LaPoint entered guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to commit the crimes of kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The Michigan Attorney General’s Office filed the charges against her and three co-defendants in an alleged plot to kidnap, rape and kill a randomly selected child in a case that shocked and outraged many in the community. A count of conspiracy to commit murder filed against LaPoint was dismissed in exchange for her pleas.
She argued her plea was involuntary because she was “induced” to enter the plea agreement by a “promise” for concurrent sentences in a pair of cases although consecutive sentences were not possible.
The State Court of Appeals determined in December of 2021 the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying LaPoint’s motions to withdraw her guilty pleas. They also disagreed with LaPoint when she claimed the plea agreements were illusory.
She appealed her case to the Michigan Supreme Court in February of 2022. Branch County Prosecuting Attorney Zach Stempien contested her appeal arguing that no error occurred during the plea process.
The court entered an order in June of 2022 holding the case in abeyance pending the resolution of another case which addressed similar issues. The ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court was issued on Tuesday.
The earliest LaPoint can be released from prison is August of 2043.
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