HART, MI— A former Gwinn man convicted of sexual assault and child abuse charges in downstate Oceana County has been sentenced.
Jeffrey Barrett, 43, was charged with four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of child abuse. He was accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting the victim when she was 4 and 5 years old in 2010 and 2011. He also abused the child in other ways, knowingly or intentionally causing severe mental harm.
Barrett was originally charged in Oceana County in 2018, when the victim reported the abuse, but he evaded authorities until U.S. Marshals arrested him in Marinette, Wisconsin in January 2025. Barrett was later extradited to Oceana County in April 2025 under Operation Survivor Justice.
He was sentenced Monday to 50 to 75 years in prison for the CSC charges and 20 to 50 years for the child abuse charge. The sentences will be served consecutively.
