Child Abuse

A 20-year-old thumb area resident faces 31 charges after a child pornography investigation by the Michigan state police internet crimes against children task force revealed he allegedly was participating in unlawful activity.

Quintin Pierre Smith of vassar appeared in the 71B district court on Tuesday where he was arraigned on two counts of aggravated child sexually abusive activity, eight counts of child sexually abusive activity, 10 counts of using a computer to commit a crime, two counts of aggravatedpossession of children sexually abusive material, one count of accosting a child for an immoral purpose and eight counts of possession of child sexually abusive material.

Smith, who is on probation, was arrested after allegations of unlawful activity prompted the Michigan department of corrections tuscola county probation to seize digital evidence from him, MSP said in a press release issued on Thursday. Child sexually abusive material was located by the Michigan department of corrections and turned over to the MSP internet crimes against children task force for further search.

In light of the crime, the MSP computer crimes unit encourages parents to speak to their children about the safe use of the internet connectivity.

There are many ways available to parents to assist in keeping children safe online. The MSP internet crimes against children task force provides resources.

Anyone with information regarding possible child sexual exploitation should report it to the CyberTipLine at missing kids.

The CyberTipLine, run by the national authority for missing and exploited children, helps to solve cases in Michigan.

For instance, Michigan State Police began investigating a rogers city man after a tip from the national center for missing and exploited children said he possessed child sexually abusive material. MSP searched his home and found more than 100 images of child sexually abusive material on his internet-capable devices.