BENTON HARBOR — A former Benton Harbor police officer is facing sex offense charges.
Jared Lorenzo Graves, 42, was charged Thursday with two counts of third degree criminal sexual conduct, a count of misconduct in office and one count of delivery of marijuana.The criminal sexual conduct charge is a 15-year felony. Graves is accused of forcing a 24-year-old female suspect into performing a sex act on him under the threat he would arrest her for possession of marijuana, which he had confiscated from her two days earlier. The offense allegedly took place Oct. 5.
It is alleged Graves was called to the Harbor Towers apartment of the woman Oct. 3 to investigate possible drug use. When Graves discovered marijuana, he didn’t pursue charges.
But he allegedly called her two days later and had her come to the police station. It was there, he allegedly led her to a storage room and forced her into the sex act.
Graves is also accused of writing a false police report of the initial incident.
He wrote he was unable to determine from which apartment the smell of marijuana was coming. He also made no mention of seizing marijuana from the woman.
The Berrien County Prosecutor’s office reports Graves allegedly had contact with the same woman Nov. 16 at the apartment building. It is alleged Graves tried to blackmail her into sex acts again.