Michigan: A high school referee identified as Gerald Allen Sutter was arrested on child sex abuse charges, authorities confirmed.
Officials said Sutter is accused of assaulting a boy between 2019 and 2021 at Sutter’s Michigan home in Lansing Township.
According press release: Yesterday the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Lansing Township Police Department arrested Gerald Allen Sutter, on 3 counts of criminal sexual conduct involving a minor male victim. Sutter is a 70 year old male from Lansing Township. These assaults allegedly occurred from 2019 through 2021 in the suspect’s home in the 700 block of Fitting Ave. Sutter was subsequently arraigned just a short time ago in the 55th District Court and was remanded to the Ingham County jail with no bond.
Information recently came to the attention of the Sheriff’s Office that a well-known athletic official for youth sports, mostly baseball and softball, was preying on young athletes. We immediately started to investigate these allegations which led us to this point.
During the initial investigation, arrest, and execution of a search warrant of Sutter’s home yesterday, evidence and information gathered leads us to believe there is a potential for numerous other victims in and around our community. If so, this case could span several decades.
Sutter has been a multi sport official, both male and female, spanning early childhood sports all the way through college athletics. Over the past 50 years, Sutter has travelled all over this state officiating athletics but primarily worked in the mid-Michigan area. Anyone that has played or had children who have played sports in this area likely had games officiated by Sutter. Gerald Sutter also went by the name Jerry and nickname “Dewey.”
We want to assure any person willing to come forward to provide information will be treated with dignity and respect. This investigation will be thorough and objective in our pursuit of justice.
Our professionals understand the trauma, sensitivity, and reluctance associated with cases like this. The Sheriff’s Office has established a phone line specifically for this case. The number is 517-676-8440. Information can be emailed to officialhotline@ingham.org. We ask any other victims or people with pertinent information reference these crimes to reach out to us