TRAVERSE CITY — A Suttons Bay man who police believe sexually assaulted a young girl 25 years ago now faces a felony criminal charge.
Robert Terry Kilbourne, 55, is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13. Police arrested him Tuesday, and he's scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. today.
Traverse City Police believe Kilbourne assaulted a female relative in 1987 while they lived in a city apartment complex. The victim approached police in November and Kilbourne was charged after a subsequent investigation.
The victim, who was 5 at the time, struggled with the incident her entire life and "finally built up the courage" to approach authorities, police reports indicate.
Detectives went to Kilbourne's residence near Suttons Bay to speak with him. He confirmed most of the victim's complaint, reports indicate, but couldn't remember all the details.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know, this happened when I was so spaced out," he said, according to a police report.
Police said it's not unusual for long periods to pass before someone is charged with a sex offense.
"It's not uncommon for us to find out about criminal sexual conduct long after it occurred," City Police Capt. Brian Heffner said. "It's only when the victim is emotionally ready to relay what occurred that we find them coming to the police department to file a complaint."
Authorities face challenges when investigating old complaints. Witnesses move away or die, crime scenes change, and memories fade. But an old crime is still a crime.
"It's our job to gather facts, whether it's 20 minutes ago or 20 years ago," Grand Traverse County Undersheriff Nate Alger said. "(Also), we want to bring justice, whether it's a criminal charge or a sense of closure for the victim."
Region
Man charged in sex crime after 25 years
Authorities believe man sexually assaulted girl in '87
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Police arrest two in separate assaults
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Boaters' safety class to be held
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Audit preparations for TCL&P begin
Consultants have until mid-June to submit plans for how they would conduct a Traverse City Light & Power audit.
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Man charged with more crimes
James Anthony Simpson, 26, of Traverse City, is charged with third-degree home invasion, larceny in a building and malicious destruction of a building after a May 15 incident at a Garfield Township residence.
Continued ... - Wednesday, May 30, 2012
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Housing project 'moving forward'
Traverse City commissioners recently approved what officials expect to be the last change in long-running negotiations to sell city property near the former railroad depot off Eighth Street to two affordable housing agencies.
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Septic tank tax appears inevitable
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DEQ seeks public input on Brown Bridge Dam removal
The state Department of Environmental Quality seeks public comment on Traverse City's request for a permit to remove Brown Bridge Dam and restore three miles of Boardman River channel.
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Man charged in Crystal Lake incident
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Traverse City to expand TC Saves energy program
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Elk Lake boat launch closed for repairs
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Suspect arrested in parking meter thefts
Police arrested a man they said stole parking meters in Traverse City.
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TC Central, West on another 'best' list
Two Traverse City high schools made another national list of the best in the country.
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Traverse City man faces theft charge
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Continued ... - Tuesday, May 29, 2012
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Video: 'Taps' at Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery
An excerpt of horn player Don Sattler and drummer David Sattler performing "Taps" at the conclusion of the Memorial Day service at Traverse City's Oakwood Cemetery on Monday, May. 28, 2012.
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Memorial Day: Traverse City honors heroes
A Memorial Day ceremony included a recitation of the Gettysburg Address, a rifle salute, the playing of "Taps" and a speech from Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners Chairman Larry Inman.
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Get to work without using your car
- Monday, May 28, 2012
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City to discontinue spring cleanup
City crews will stop collecting residents' clutter each spring.
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Terry Wooten: WWII soldier's story told in poems
Jack Miller, a survivor of the Bataan Death March and a POW during World War II, won't be in any Memorial Day parades today.
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Remembering the fallen veterans
Below is a list of military veterans from the region who died during the past year (May 28, 2011, through May 25, 2012).
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Memorial Day events
A roundup of Memorial Day-related events in northern Michigan:
Continued ... - Sunday, May 27, 2012
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Travel season begins
Tourism analysts at Michigan State University project a 3 percent increase in Michigan travel volume this year.
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Restored cemetery to be honored on Memorial Day
The "Old Ones" buried in the once-overgrown and abandoned Onominese Indian Cemetery near Northport will be honored in a Memorial Day service and traditional re-dedication ceremony.
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