Alex Harimoto

ROGERS CITY — A former Rogers City employee is facing jail time for having an inappropriate relationship with a minor while working for the city.

Former Rogers City Main Street and Rogers City Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Alex Harimoto, 25, was arrested and arraigned on June 30 on three charges of first degree criminal sexual conduct relationship and three charges of second degree criminal sexual conduct relationship.

The date of the offense was March 5, 2024.

Harimoto was hired by the City of Rogers City on May 31, 2022 and he resigned on March 18, 2024, Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennan said.

McLennan said the city had done an extensive background check on Harimoto before he was hired but nothing dubious was discovered.

“We do background checks on all hires, all employees,” McLennan told The News Monday. “His record (was) completely clean.”

“He is a young man that made a bad choice in life if this is all true,” he said.

Harimoto is represented by Attorney Jesse Williams. His next court date is a pre-trial at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the 89th District Court in Rogers City.

Zakary McLennan, who is the prosecuting attorney for Presque Isle County and son of Scott McLennan, recused himself from the case because of a possible conflict of interest. It is unknown at this time who will prosecute the case in his absence.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.