Charges Filed After Portland Teen’s Tragic Death Leaves Community Demanding Answers

Stories like these make me sick to my stomach, and wonder, "how the hell could somebody do something so wrong?!"

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An 18 year old Michigan man has been charged with sexually assaulting a Portland girl who later killed herself.

Blake Kozan of St. Johns was in court today via a video feed.

During the arraignment he stood quietly and listened to the magistrate explain the charge against him of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

How Did The Assault Happen?

Police say that this terrible assault started out when a group of middle school students were hanging out at a mobile home park in Portland on Saturday February 21st.

While adults were sleeping, the teens played a game of "Spin The Bottle".

Yes, the same game many of us might have played at the age, where you spin the bottle and whoever it lands on is who you have to kiss.

I don't know a single parent that would want or encourage their kids to play "spin the bottle", but it's something innocent a lot of us might have done when we were the same age.

When I was in 6th grade, I played at a neighbor's house and ended up kissing his sister who was in the 8th grade at our middle school.

But the thing that sickens me, and what I don't understand, is how Blake Kozan who was 17 at the time allegedly played spin the bottle with a bunch of middle school girls, including Mylah Thelen who was only 12 at the time.

Read More: 25 Things Michigan Is Known And Famous For

A little over a month after the sexual assault Mylah's father found her dead in her room on March 29th.

The Magistrate decided to deny bond to Kozan so he will remain behind bars while his case works its way through the court system.

It's going to be interesting to see how this case goes because the prosecutor, Kyle Butler, said this is the first time he has pursued a sexual assault case after the death of the victim.

“Based on the facts that have been presented at this time, I do believe that probable cause exists that the defendant did this, and I do believe that there’s a reasonable probability of success at trial if the defendant chooses to exercise that right."