Press Release
Contact:
JEFF J. DAVIS
ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY
PHONE: (616) 456-2406
GRAND TRAVERSE BAND TRIBAL MEMBER CONVICTED
OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2009 -
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – Clifford Francis Gould, Jr., a.k.a. “Dulo,” 47, of
Peshawbestown, Michigan, has been found guilty of four counts of aggravated child sexual
abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact involving three children who were all under the
age of twelve when they were assaulted, U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis announced today. The
verdict was returned by a federal jury sitting in Grand Rapids after a four-day trial presided over
by U.S. District Court Judge Janet T. Neff.
According to testimony and exhibits introduced at trial, Gould sexually assaulted three
minor girls at his home, which is located on lands held in trust for the Grand Traverse Band of
Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The sexual assaults occurred over a time period beginning in
April of 2005, through May of 2007, when the child victims reported the incidents to tribal
police.
This case was investigated by the Grand Traverse Band Tribal Police Department and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Traverse City, Michigan. During the investigation, it was
discovered that the defendant had sexually assaulted other children in the past. Those individuals
are now adults and were allowed to testify against Gould in this case.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 11, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Neff. Gould faces
a minimum sentence of thirty years imprisonment on each of the four aggravated sexual abuse
counts.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the Grand Traverse Band Tribal Police and the F.B.I., Traverse City office for their work on the case. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy P. VerHey and Jeff J. Davis.
END
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