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| Brian Ackerman, Otsego County mugshot |
According to a brief story on the Traverse City Ticker, Ackerman and his wife, Virginia (Ginger) have “vanished” after fleecing a Peninsula Township woman out of thousands dollars after an estate sale last September, and police cannot locate them.
In May 2016, Ackerman and his wife conducted an estate sale at a Bay City property formerly owned by convicted felon, and disgraced charter school honcho, Steven Ingersoll. The sale was conducted by the Ackermans under the name Estate Sales of Northern Michigan. After briefly attending the sale, I subsequently discovered Ackerman's extensive criminal history.
Ackerman was arrested in Gaylord on May 5, 2015, and charged in May 2016 in Otsego County with two counts of third degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct as well as one count of furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Ackerman was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old family friend.
According contemporaneous news reports, Michigan State Police began an investigation in August of 2014 when a family member contacted the police about Ackerman. The incident happened at a home in Bagley Township where Ackerman allegedly assaulted the 13-year-old and gave the victim alcohol. Ackerman turned himself in on May 4, 2015.
Ackerman was found not guilty by a jury on August 1, 2016.
However, Ackerman's violent criminal history stretches back to at least 2002.
Ackerman was charged in Wayne County, Michigan on April 16, 2002 with assault with intent to do great bodily harm/less than murder and a probation violation. Ackerman pled nolo contendere (no contest) to the assault on September 31, 2002 and was sentenced to two years probation.
In addition, Ackerman served 63 days in Wayne County jail for the probation violation.
Later, after a three-day jury trial in 2003, Ackerman was found guilty in Oakland County of felonious assault (assault with a deadly weapon). Sentenced to a term in the Michigan corrections system of one to four years, Ackerman was ordered to pay his victim $35,124.46 in restitution. (The Michigan Legislature requires the MDOC to keep offender information on OTIS for only three years after the offender has discharged from MDOC supervision, so I was unable to confirm the actual time Ackerman served.)
On May 7, 2010, Ackerman was charged with misdemeanor assault in Pima County, Arizona. The charge was later dismissed by the Marana City Attorney.
I'm betting someone knows where Ackerman and his wife are located, and it's likely Otsego County.
If you know, call your local police department.