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| James Adam Baird |
James Adam Baird, 43, of Plymouth, has been charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in the alleged molestation of four girls between the ages of 10 and 15. The children were blindfolded and assaulted during eye examinations performed at area schools between 2018 and 2020, according to charges filed by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
Prosecutors allege that Baird sexually assaulted a 10-year-old victim multiple times at about noon Jan. 4, 2018 at Douglas Elementary School in Garden City. The assaults took place during a vision examination performed by Baird, prosecutors said.
Baird is charged with a second assault of a Westland student at Marshall Upper Elementary School on March 1, 2018. Prosecutors claim that Baird blindfolded the then 13-year-old victim before sexually assaulting her during a vision test.
The former teacher is also accused of assaulting an 11-year-old girl during an eye examination performed at Douglas Elementary School in May of 2019. He is also alleged to have sexually assaulted a 15-year-old student at Stevenson Middle School in Westland.
Parents of four of the children have filed civil lawsuits against Baird, claiming that he was a vision mobility specialist who worked with children who had vision impairments. During the school day, he is accused of putting goggles on the victims' heads that block light, called occluders, before assaulting the young girls. The lawsuits claim officials from the respective school districts authorized an investigation into the alleged assaults but did not notify them that their daughters had been victimized.
Baird was arraigned on all four cases two in 18th District Court in Westland and two in 21st District Court in Garden City. Baird was given a $100,000 personal bond by Judge Sandra Cicirelli in Westland and must wear a GPS tether, if released from jail. In Garden City he was given a $15,000 personal bond and must wear a GPS tether, if released from jail.
His next court dates are scheduled for Feb. 9 and Feb. 27.
