News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Judge Aaron Gauthier is pictured in the 53rd Circuit Court in Rogers City on Monday. Alex Harimoto, Defense Attorney Jesse Williams, and Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Reed appeared via Zoom.

ROGERS CITY — Alex Harimoto, 26, will be pleading guilty to one count of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) at 10:40 a.m. on Feb. 2 in the 53rd Circuit Court.

Harimoto, the former executive director of the Rogers City Downtown Development Association, was originally charged with three counts of first degree CSC and three counts of second degree CSC.

Harimoto was arrested and arraigned on June 30. The date of the offense was March 5, 2024. His case was bound over to the 53rd Circuit Court after he waived preliminary examination.

On Monday, Harimoto, Defense Counsel Jesse Williams, and Alcona County Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Reed all appeared for Harimoto’s scheduled docket call via Zoom.

Presque Isle Prosecuting Attorney Zakary McLennan had to recuse himself from the case due to a conflict of interest.

After a number of technical difficulties, Gauthier said he’d been told that there is a plea resolution in the matter. He asked if a written plea agreement had been sent to the court, and the clerk replied there had not been.

Williams said that Harimoto will be pleading guilty to one count of CSC fourth degree and upon completion of that the balance of the charges will be dismissed. Harimoto will also have to register as a sex offender for 25 years, according to a statement from Williams in a Dec. 1 hearing.

Judge Aaron Gauthier asked if there was amended information of the charges.

Reed replied that there was not, but she could put together the report and get it to the court right away.

Gauthier decided to push the hearing to a later date.

“I’ll have everybody present in person for a plea hearing,” he said. “I want the amended information done ahead of time. I want the written plea agreement. I want written advice of rights. We’re not going to have tech issues. We’re going to have all our paperwork ducks in order. I’ll see everybody in person, in my courtroom, February 2nd at 10:40 a.m.”

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