A man arrested on suspicion of throwing incendiary devices at a home in Brighton Township has been sentenced to 7-25 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Alex Buley-Neumar, 25, was sentenced by Judge Miriam Cavanaugh in Livingston County’s 44th Circuit Court on May 28. He faced eight charges, including arson, criminal sexual conduct against a person aged 13-15, aggravated stalking of a minor and using a computer to commit a crime.
Buley-Neumar, of Mount Pleasant, was arrested in November after allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at a home on Burson Drive. The devices ignited fires throughout the neighborhood, but residents were able to extinguish the flames before they spread.
Buley-Neumar was arrested by the Mount Pleasant Police Department on Nov. 29 and transported to the Livingston County Jail. He was charged with one count of manufacture/possession of an explosive causing damage; one count of arson — preparation to burn a dwelling; one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct against a person aged 13-15; one count of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material; one count of aggravated child sexually abusive activity; one count of aggravated stalking of a minor; one count of using a computer to commit a crime; and one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes.
He pled guilty to the charges in early May.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kate Kerbrat told Cavanaugh the case is one of the most disturbing she’s seen in her career. She said the victim’s family had to relocate and work through the state’s confidentiality program to protect themselves. The program provides victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking with an official substitute address.
“They will never feel safe again and will spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders,” Kerbrat said.
Kerbrat said Buley-Neumar sexually assaulted the victim within weeks of meeting her, then proceeded to stalk, harass, blackmail and threaten her.
In a pre-sentencing investigation report, Kerbrat pointed out Buley-Neumar’s search history — which included the age of consent, laws about criminal sexual conduct, how enforcement operations are conducted, the victim’s school schedule and other personal information.
He also searched how to kill someone quickly, commit arson, hide trace evidence, create Molotov cocktails, find a victim and get into a locked house — as well as whether burning a house would destroy a body. In his home, police found a ski mask, oil, lighters, a five-gallon bucket and other items that corresponded with the information he’d found online.
Kerbrat said, based on the letter Buley-Neumar wrote to the court, she doesn’t believe there’s a chance for rehabilitation.
“He doesn’t truly understand the gravity of his actions … and doesn’t understand the harm he’s done,” she said.
Brittany Goodman, the public defender who represented Buley-Neumar, acknowledged the severity of his actions. She told Cavanaugh her client had a “horrific” childhood.
“He’s probably had one of the most horrific childhoods and upbringings that I’ve ever seen in a client,” she said. “It doesn’t negate his actions at all or diminish how horrible those actions (were) — however, I do think it brings a light to why he’s before the court today.”
Buley-Neumar will be required to register as a sex offender.
— Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Mount Pleasant man sentenced for stalking teen in Livingston County
Reporting by Tess Ware, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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