Preliminary Hearing Adjourned for Man Charged with Raping Underage Girl

Judge Michael McNally on Tuesday adjourned a preliminary examination of the evidence against a Trenton man charged with raping a girl under 13 years old.

The hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at 33rd District Court in Woodhaven.

, 30, was charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and one count of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree.

The first three charges are felonies and each charge carries a possible sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The fourth charge carries a possible sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Griffor's defense attorney requested the adjournment to have time to better understand the case.

Assistant prosecutor Kinga Gorzelewski objected to the adjournment because the girl had to miss school to be at the courthouse.

She also asked McNally to reiterate to Griffor that he is to have no contact with the girl or her mother.

Griffor contacted the mother over the phone from Wayne County Jail and instructed her not to be in the courtroom, according to Gorzelewski.

Gorzelewski added Griffor was mouthing words in the mother's direction during the day's court proceedings.

McNally reminded Griffor not to contact anyone involved with the case and that he is not to be in the company of anyone under 18 years old without supervision.

"I hope you trust that I'm serious about everything I'm telling you," McNally said. "This is not a game. We don’t call witnesses from the jail and tell them not to come to court."

McNally added speaking to a witness in the case could result in additional charges such as tampering with witnesses and obstruction of justice, which are both felonies.