Man faces prison following ‘no contest’ plea to CSC.

Bliss

Man faces prison following ‘no contest’ plea to CSC.

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By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. 

LUDINGTON — A Hart man, who was 33 years old at the time of his arraignment*, pleaded “no contest” to third-degree criminal sexual conduct, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder — strangulation — and second-offense habitual offender in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, April 5.

Paul Edward Bliss, of 702 S. Dryden St., was arrested by the Ludington Police Department.

In exchange for Bliss’s plea, he faces a prison term of three and a half to 22 years. He must register as a sex offender. The female victim is in agreement with the plea and sentence arrangement, said Mason County Assistant Prosecutor Beth Hand.

Judge Susan K. Sniegowski read transcripts from the preliminary exam that took place in 79th District Court. Bliss and the victim met at Stearns Park Beach and then went to her apartment in Ludington. According to testimony, he pinned her down and started ripping her shirt off despite her telling him “no.” According to the testimony, he raped her while his hands covered her mouth. When she tried to leave the room, he put his hands around her neck, said the judge.

Bliss was previously convicted of third-degree CSC in 2009, said the judge.

Sentencing is set for May 24 at 1 p.m.

*The Michigan Supreme Court entered an order, effective Jan. 1, 2022, that protects certain personal identifying information, such as defendants’ dates of birth.

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