St. Joseph dentist pleads no contest to Seduction, Assault and Battery
Posted: Nov 9, 2026 2:19 PM EST
Berrien County Jail: Charles Howenstine ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- The Berrien County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to ABC57 News that St. Joseph, Mich. dentist Charles Howenstine pled no contest to charges related to a criminal sexual conduct investigation.
Howenstine pled no contest to one charge of Seduction and two counts of Assault and Battery.
The remaining counts were dismissed.
In October 2025, Howenstine was initially faced with nine counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct.
He will be sentenced on Dec. 7.
The Berrien County Prosecutor's Office released the following statement as well:
"A no contest plea is a plea of admission where you are essentially not contesting the facts of the case that are read into the record, you accept the conviction, and punishment for the crime, and the convictions enter onto your criminal record."
