Lawyer: Rolls denies teen sex accusations | News

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- A Kent County commissioner is denying allegations made by a woman claiming he sexually molested her for years. 

Republican Gary Rolls represents the 4th District, which includes Ada. 

Documents of a personal protection order (PPO) taken out against rolls by his accuser were sent to WZZM 13 -- and other media outlets -- on Tuesday afternoon.  They were emailed to us by the Kent County Democratic Party.

The PPO includes claims that Rolls abused a 28-year-old woman for years, and that the alleged acts began 16 years ago.

Rolls' attorney released a statement this afternoon, saying, "Mr. Rolls will vigorously defend himself against these allegations...He has served well as District 4 Kent County commissioner and has a deserved reputation as a hard working, well respected citizen and business man in the community."

WZZM 13 began investigating this case Tuesday. We checked multiple sources and learned an investigation by the Michigan State Police is in the early stages.

In the statement, Rolls' attorney, John Karafa from McCroskey Law Offices, says, "The allegations made in the petition filed by a Muskegon County woman for a personal protection order are categorically denied as untrue by Mr. Rolls."

Karafa's statement goes on to say, "The PPO was issued ex parte, which is a procedural exception to the general rule that would otherwise have allowed Mr. Rolls an opportunity to respond to the allegations before any order was considered."

WZZM 13 questioned the timing of the information released so close to the election and from a partisan source.  For that reason we chose not to air the full story on Tuesday.  

However, since Rolls's lawyer is responding to the allegations made in the PPO, we have decided it is appropriate to to report the story at this time.

Rolls is running for reelection in the fourth commission district against Democratic challenger Thomas Golden.