Battle Creek Man Accused Of Raping Four Young Girls

A Battle Creek man is facing several charges related to sex acts with four young girls over the course of years. 64-year-old John T. Craig was taken into custody Tuesday and was scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.

The Battle Creek Enquirer reports that Craig was living in a van in Battle Creek with his 49-year-old wife and six children for the past two years. An investigation began back in April when the wife reported a 17-year-old female who had been living there as a runaway.

When she was located, the teen reportedly told police she had been repeatedly sexually abused over the course of five years. When speaking to the other girls living in the van, police were told that Craig had them watch pornography and said he wanted to teach them things for when they began having boyfriends. He also is said to have threatened punishment if they didn't comply.

The four young women, two now adults, all had to be placed into foster homes because they are suffering from "cognitive impairments" related to the assaults against them. Another 13-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl are reportedly biological children of Craig's and authorities believe they were not assaulted, based on their investigations. There is also no indications that the wife was involved or knew about the assaults, which are said to have taken place in Battle Creek as well as locations in other states. Detectives say the assaults took place when his wife was not with him.

Altogether, Craig faces seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.