Atlas Twp.-A township man has been arrested and charged with two counts of distributing and manufacturing child pornography, and three counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. The charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. A first degree criminal sexual conduct conviction carries a life in prison sentence.
Paul Christian, 40, is currently in custody of the Genesee County Sheriff’s office and has a $275,000 cash bond, said Captain Christopher Swanson of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 10, Genesee County 9-1-1 received a call from Christian’s 16-year-old daughter saying she’d found pornographic pictures of a 12-year-old girl on a digital camera she’d borrowed from her father, said Swanson.
When Christian’s home was searched, officials found ‘boxes and boxes? of adult pornographic materials, said Swanson.
‘At that point, we seized the computer terminal that has the data on it.?
Christian was arrested on probable cause, and charged with two counts of distributing and manufacturing child pornography.
Swanson said the Department of Human Services was contacted, the 12-year-old girl was interviewed, and based on information gathered from that meeting, three additional counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree were added to the charges.
A court appearance has been scheduled for Aug.11.
Christian had no prior convictions.