Ex-Dentist Gets 15-30 Years For Sex Assault Of Patient
MASON (WWJ/AP) - A former pediatric dentist has been sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child patient more than a decade ago.
An Ingham County jury returned guilty verdicts last month against 65-year-old Wendell Racette on five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and 10 counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was sentenced on Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Racette sexually assaulted the boy numerous times between 1996 and 2000 at his former office on East Saginaw Street in Lansing.
The boy, who came forward in 2010, was between the ages of 5 and 10 when the assaults occurred. He is now 22-years-old.
Prosecutors called Racette a man in a position of trust who preyed on multiple children, drugging then assaulting them.
In court, Racette had nothing to say about the crimes. His attorney also declined comment.
It was the second time Racette stood trial on the charges. The first trial ended in December with a hung jury.
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