Van Buren County couple charged with child, sexual abuse

PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Two people who lived at an address with an in-home day care have been charged with child abuse, deputies say.

On June 29, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office received information from the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana about child sexual and physical abuse happening near Gobles. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office then drafted a search warrant for a home on M-40 near 1st Avenue in Pine Grove Township.

Jesse Stone, 46, and Stephanie Stone, 38, were arrested and charged with multiple counts of child abuse. Jesse Stone was also charged with counts of criminal sexual conduct. His bond was set at $750,000 and Stephanie Stone is being held on a $100,000 bond.

A booking photo released by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office of Jesse Stone.

A booking photo released by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office of Stephanie Stone.

There was an in-home daycare at the residence, according to the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, but deputies do not believe any children who attended the day care were being abused. The investigation is ongoing.

In a January 2022 report from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the address was registered to Little Cubs Childcare, and Stephanie Stone was listed as the licensee. Jesse Stone was listed as a staff member.

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