A Howell High School student is jailed after being charged with sexual assault.

17-year-old Scott William Minton is being held on a $1 million bond at the Livingston County Jail following his arraignment on nine felony charges in 53rd District Court, including five counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of extortion and one count of distributing or promoting child sexually abusive material. Howell Police say the charges are the result of an April 1st incident on property adjacent to Howell High School.

Although Minton was just 16 at the time of the alleged incident, he was charged as an adult. Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt said that while it isn’t common practice to charge a juvenile as an adult, his office will do so when the circumstances are appropriate. He declined to release any further details on the case, but noted the offenses were committed between April and May of this year.

If convicted on the charges, Minton could face up to life in prison, although juvenile sentencing option would also be available. Howell Public Schools’ Director of Public Relations Tom Gould declined to comment on the case.

Minton remains lodged under a $1 million bond pending a probable cause conference on September 20th. (JK)