According to Berrien County court records, a prominent St. Joseph area dentist was arrested and arraigned this week on nine counts of criminal sexual conduct, fourth degree force/coercion. According to official records, 45-year-old Charles William Howenstine of St. Joseph was arrested on Thursday and released on $20,000 bond.
If convicted, each felony charge carries a potential punishment of up to two years in prison, or a $500 fine, and individuals convicted must be listed on the sex offender registry. As a condition of his bond release, Howenstine is currently on electronic monitoring.
Michigan State Police confirm they led the investigation of the case but provided no further details on the allegations.
Howenstine is scheduled for a pre-exam conference on October 17. A preliminary hearing is set for October 23 in front of Hon. Judge Jennifer L. Smith. Attempts to reach Dr. Howenstine for comment were unsuccessful. Officials said the charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
According to Michigan law, the charge of criminal sexual conduct, fourth degree, force/coercion, is where a person engages in sexual contact with another person and if any of the following circumstances exist: overcoming the victim through physical force or physical violence; coercing a victim to submit by threatening to use force or violence on the victim; when the actor coerces the victim to submit by threatening to retaliate in the future against the victim; when the actor engages in the medical treatment or examination of the victim in a manner or for purposes which are medically recognized as unethical or unacceptable; or when the actor achieves the sexual contact through concealment or by the element of surprise.
