Grosse Pointe Man, 72, Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Young Girl

GROSSE POINTE, MI — A Grosse Pointe man could spend the rest of his life in prison for raping a young girl five years ago, according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office.

Robert Allen DeClercq, 72, was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (person under 13, defendant over 17). He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years up to lifetime imprisonment. He will be sentenced on Aug. 18.

The assault happened in 2020 when DeClercq raped the young girl, who was a relative, in the bathroom of his secondary home in Fairview Township in Oscoda County, officials said.

"This very young victim of sexual assault showed great courage in telling a trustworthy adult in her life what had occurred," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. "I am grateful for the jury, and the Michigan State Police for their investigative efforts, and those of my office's prosecutors, who brought accountability and justice for this assault."