DETROIT – A 22-year-old Northville Township man who police said kidnapped and raped a 14-year-old girl he met on Snapchat last spring will serve at least 16 years in prison.
Charles Willis was sentenced on Feb. 19 by Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Bradley Cobb to 16 to 30 years in prison for first-degree criminal sexual conduct and 10 to 20 years for child sexually abusive commercial activity. The sentences are to run concurrently.
In return for pleading guilty to the two felonies last month, Willis had eight other charges against him dismissed, including kidnapping, Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller said.
Defense Attorney Rodney Williams did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The charges stemmed from an incident that police said began April 25, 2025, when Willis reached out via Snapchat to a 14-year-old girl and arranged for an Uber to bring her to his Northville Township home from her residence about two hours west.
Police say Willis instructed the girl to stay in his basement. Around 5:30 a.m. on April 27, the 14-year-old was found walking alone near Seven Mile and Sheldon roads. Northville Twp. detectives executed a search warrant on Willis’ home that same day and he was taken into custody.
Miller said the family of the girl had expressed their gratitude to Assistant Prosecutor Brittany Johnson, who worked on the case.
“They are pleased that the resolution of this matter will result in Defendant Willis serving many years in prison for his crimes,” Miller said.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Northville Twp. man sentenced to prison after luring girl, 14, on Snapchat
Reporting by Susan Bromley, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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