Sex abuse suspect extradited to from Michigan to Baldwin County

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WALA) - An Alabama man has been extradited from Michigan to Baldwin County to face sexual abuse charges against a minor. Robert Christopher Grdjan, 36, is accused of molesting a teenage girl.

SUSPECT FLED TO MICHIGAN

Grdjan is now in the Baldwin County Jail after being extradited from Michigan. Grdjan moved with his family from Baldwin County in September 2012, soon after local investigators received reports of sexual abuse.

Eric Winberg, an investigator with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office told us, “Right after the report was made it’s believed that the Grdjan family fled to the Michigan area.”

Authorities in Michigan were notified and the state’s Family Protective Services interviewed a teenage girl who lived with Grdjan. Investigators say she accused Grdjan of molesting her back in Alabama.

“From the evidence and history that we’ve obtained, it appears that this was an ongoing inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor,” Winberg said.

MICHIGAN AUTHORITIES BOUGHT TIME

Because the alleged sex abuse occurred in Alabama, Michigan authorities had to file lesser charges against Grdjan, but the Michigan judge leveled maximum bonds to keep him in jail until he could be charged and extradited by Baldwin County law enforcement. That move bought time for local investigators.

“Which allowed us time to gather further facts and evidence which allowed us to develop enough probable to cause to obtain warrants down here and get him extradited back to Baldwin County,” Winberg said.

Now with Grdjan in custody, the investigation into the charges of sexual abuse and sodomy can continue.

SUSPECT COOPERATING

Investigators meet with Grdjan Tuesday afternoon. They say, so far, he has been cooperative in the investigation.