Ionia County Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="72A12F370E374121856CBAACE569CEF0" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."><_w3a_listitem datavalue="GRAND RAPIDS" listvalue="GRAND RAPIDS"><_w3a_listitem datavalue="KALAMAZOO" listvalue="KALAMAZOO"><_w3a_listitem datavalue="MARQUETTE" listvalue="MARQUETTE"><_w3a_listitem datavalue="LANSING" listvalue="LANSING"> GRAND RAPIDS - U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Ethan Eversman, 24, of Ionia, was indicted on criminal charges related to alleged sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution and possession of child pornography.

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="72A12F370E374121856CBAACE569CEF0" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"> "Children should not have to endure the trauma of being a victim of child exploitation," said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. "My office is committed to working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect our most defenseless citizens from egregious sex crimes."

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="72A12F370E374121856CBAACE569CEF0" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"> The indictment alleges that from 2021 until June 2024, Eversman convinced a minor victim in New York to create explicit pictures and videos of herself and send them to him online. Eversman is also charged with sending child pornographic videos to others and possessing child pornography on his cell phone. If convicted, Eversman faces up to 30 years in prison. Eversman previously worked as a corrections officer for the Eaton County Sheriff's Office.

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="72A12F370E374121856CBAACE569CEF0" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"> "Those individuals who commit crimes against our children or possess child pornography will be investigated and arrested by members of the FBI and/or our law enforcement partners," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan. "This joint investigation between the Michigan State Police, members from FBI in the Lansing area, and the combined efforts from federal, state and local law enforcement partners embedded within the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, contributed to the indictment of an alleged sexual predator."

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="72A12F370E374121856CBAACE569CEF0" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"> "The Michigan State Police and the detectives of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are committed to investigating and arresting those who exploit children," stated Col. James F. Grady II. "We appreciate the support and assistance of our federal partners in the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office in this important work."

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="72A12F370E374121856CBAACE569CEF0" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"> This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney's Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="72A12F370E374121856CBAACE569CEF0" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"> This case was investigated by the FBI and Michigan State Police.

<_w3a_sdt combobox="t" docpart="72A12F370E374121856CBAACE569CEF0" id="-935197541" sdttag="CITY" title="CITY"> The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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