Plymouth Man Faces Felony Sexual Assault Charges

PLYMOUTH, MI – A 46-year-old Plymouth Township resident employed by a third party school bus contractor as a bus monitor faces two felony sexual assault charges against a minor after he was arrested Wednesday by Northville Township police.

Rocky Perillo, 46, pleaded not guilty to the charges — one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of second-degree crimina lsexual conduct with a person under age of 13 and a defendant over 17 — in 35th District Court, according to The Plymouth Observer.

The first charge carries a minimum prison sentence of 25 years, and the second charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

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The alleged incidents occurred in Northville Township, police said, but did not involve any children from the Plymouth-Canton or Northville school districts, Northville Township Police Lt. Paul Tennies said.

Even so, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools and Durham School Services officials said in a jointly released a statement that the employee, a special needs bus monitor, has been placed on unpaid leave pending the completion of the police investigation.

The school and Durham said the alleged incidents weren’t reported until after the man was hired, so nothing suspicious came up during the background check.

More charges could be filed against Perillo, Tennies said, noting that after it became known that he had been arrested, “a new complaint came forward” that may involve Perillo’s other job as a home health-care provider.

Perillo is due in 35th District Court for a probable cause hearing May 20 and a preliminary exam on the charges May 27.

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