Ex-Lansing officer charged in school sexual assaults of 3 students takes plea deal
LANSING — A former Lansing police officer accused of attempting to kiss and molest three girls in his office at Eastern and in his patrol vehicle has made a plea agreement.
Matthew Priebe pleaded no contest to second-degree criminal sexual conduct, attempted fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, misconduct in office and two counts of assault and battery on Monday, Livingston County Prosecutor William Vailliencourt said.
In exchange for his plea, one charge of distributing sexually explicit material to a minor was dismissed.
Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon recused her office due to a conflict of interest.
Vailliencourt said Priebe's sentence recommendation is not more than 12 months in jail. Once released, he will have to register as a sex offender. Priebe was taken into custody Monday, and his bond was revoked.
The youngest victim connected to the charges was 14 and the oldest was 17 at the time of the sexual assault, Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Angela Hunt testified at a hearing that led to criminal charges. The assaults took place during a three-year period.
The then-17-year-old told investigators Priebe said he wished she had a fake ID, and that he wanted to take her out of state with him, Hunt testified. He told her he wished he could kiss her, and attempted to kiss her for five or six months.
Priebe played with the holes in her jeans near her thigh and would ask her if she wanted to touch his penis, Hunt said.
During a ride along, Priebe stopped his patrol vehicle and attempted to kiss the girl, Hunt said. When she tried to push him off, Priebe grabbed her hand and pulled it toward his crotch.
Priebe also sent the girl a photo of himself sitting on a couch wearing boxers and a shirt with his erect penis exposed, Hunt testified.
The two younger girls both began separately hanging out in Priebe's office. He gave the oldest of the two girls his cell phone number, and would FaceTime her while driving his patrol vehicle, Hunt testified. He remained on video as he undressed and showed her his tattoos.
When the third girl went to say hello before a sporting event, he closed the door and hugged her and tried to pull her dress up, Hunt testified. Even as the girl pulled the dress back down, Priebe tried several more times to pull it back up, almost far enough to see her underwear.
Priebe resigned from the Lansing Police Department June 22 as State Police were investigating his actions. He had been with the department for 10 years.
When the department found out about the allegations of misconduct in May 2018, he was placed on administrative leave, former LPD Chief Mike Yankowski said after Priebe was charged.
Acting Chief Daryl Green declined to comment through Public Information Director Robert Merritt.
Priebe is set to be sentenced Oct. 2.
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Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95