Michigan man pleads guilty to child sex crimes

SANDUSKY — A Michigan man pleaded guilty last month to committing sex crimes against a child. At a court hearing on May 29, Kenneth Hensley, 46, of Wesland, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of violating a protection order, one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and one amended count of attempted pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person. Each charge is a third-degree felony. Hensley pleaded guilty to the three charges in exchange for prosecutors to dismiss these other counts: • 11 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, each a fourth-degree felony • Two counts of menacing by stalking, each a fourth-degree felony • Two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, each a third-degree felony • One count of violating a protection order, a third-degree felony • One count of possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony Hensley could face a maximum of 10 years in prison for the charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and attempted pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person. In terms of violating a protection order, Hensley could face a maximum of three years in prison, according to Hensley's guilty plea form. In a joint recommendation, Hensley could potentially receive only four years in prison and would be classified as a Tier 2 sex offender, which means that he must verify home and work addresses every six months for 25 years. Hensley is scheduled to be sentenced at 9:15 a.m. on June 18. Background Hensley was initially indicted by an Erie County grand jury in February 2024 and again in August 2024. Hensley's first indictment from February 2024 indicates that the alleged crimes occurred in Erie County between April 2022 through April 2023. Hensley engaged in sexual conduct with a person that he knew "was less than 16 years of age." In August 2024, Hensley was indicted on 10 additional counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person and one count of violating a protection order after an Erie County grand jury returned a new indictment on Aug. 22 relating to offenses he allegedly committed between October 2023 and June 2024.