COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Late Thursday afternoon a Branch County jury handed down multiple guilty verdicts in the trial of 48-year-old Anthony Cuyler.
Cuyler was convicted on charges of delivering methamphetamine to a minor and three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct against two children under the age of 13.
The assaults occurred on July 23 and 24, 2019. Cuyler faces severe penalties, including up to 40 years in prison for the drug charge and potential life sentences for t three sexual conduct convictions, with each carrying a mandatory minimum of 25 years behind bars.
Following the authorization of charges, Cuyler evaded capture, with intelligence suggesting he had fled to Mexico. Local law enforcement’s attempts to locate and extradite him proved unsuccessful, prompting investigators from the prosecuting attorney’s office to enlist federal assistance. The case was screened and pursued under the U.S. Marshals Service’s Operation Survivor Justice, an initiative aimed at delivering justice for sex crime victims in Michigan. Through their investigation, marshals confirmed Cuyler’s location in Mexico, leading to his expulsion from the country and arrest in March 2024, after which he was transported back to Michigan to stand trial.
The prosecution was spearheaded by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, with support from Branch County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Stempien.
In a statement following the guilty verdict, Stempien expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts, saying, “I am thankful for the outcome of this case and that justice has finally been served for the victims involved. I appreciate the assistance of the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, particularly the efforts of Assistant Attorney General Caitlin Kirby. I also commend the dedication and commitment of the Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Union City Police Department in solving this cold-case criminal sexual conduct matter. Through the collaboration of the Branch County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, Union City Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service, the victims in this case were able to obtain the justice they deserved.”
Cuyler will be sentenced on February 9, 2026
Though possibilities in any other court but Branch County