A 28-year-old military recruiter has been charged with criminal sexual conduct following an investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.
Nicholas Brandon Phelps of Norton Shores was arraigned Jan. 9 in 58th District Court in Grand Haven by Judge Craig Bunce on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving individuals between the ages of 13 and 15. He is currently free on a $35,000 bond pending his next court hearings.
The Sheriff’s Office began investigating reports of inappropriate contact that occurred between a military recruiter and teenage students in the Grand Haven area in August 2025. The investigation led to information that Phelps “appears to have utilized his role to make contact with these students,” Detective Sgt. Jacob Mucha said in a news release.
Sheriff's Office personnel immediately put in place measures to prevent Phelps from having further contact with students. An additional investigation revealed that prior to the beginning of the Sheriff's Office investigation, “the suspect made contact with multiple females from area schools and sexual contact and inappropriate messaging occurred,” Mucha said.
Sheriff's Office detectives worked with the county prosecutor’s office to obtain an arrest warrant Phelps. He was taken into custody by detectives on Jan. 9 and initially lodged at the Ottawa County Jail, Mucha said.
Phelps is scheduled to appear for a probable cause conference Friday before Judge Bunce. A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 30 in 58th District Court, according to court records.
The incident remains under investigation and anyone with information of who may have had inappropriate contact with Phelps is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or mosotips.com.
Nicholas Brandon Phelps of Norton Shores was arraigned Jan. 9 in 58th District Court in Grand Haven by Judge Craig Bunce on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving individuals between the ages of 13 and 15. He is currently free on a $35,000 bond pending his next court hearings.
The Sheriff’s Office began investigating reports of inappropriate contact that occurred between a military recruiter and teenage students in the Grand Haven area in August 2025. The investigation led to information that Phelps “appears to have utilized his role to make contact with these students,” Detective Sgt. Jacob Mucha said in a news release.
Sheriff's Office personnel immediately put in place measures to prevent Phelps from having further contact with students. An additional investigation revealed that prior to the beginning of the Sheriff's Office investigation, “the suspect made contact with multiple females from area schools and sexual contact and inappropriate messaging occurred,” Mucha said.
Sheriff's Office detectives worked with the county prosecutor’s office to obtain an arrest warrant Phelps. He was taken into custody by detectives on Jan. 9 and initially lodged at the Ottawa County Jail, Mucha said.
Phelps is scheduled to appear for a probable cause conference Friday before Judge Bunce. A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 30 in 58th District Court, according to court records.
The incident remains under investigation and anyone with information of who may have had inappropriate contact with Phelps is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or mosotips.com.
