An Oakland County man was charged over the weekend with multiple criminal counts following a lengthy investigation that uncovered a “large quantity” of child pornographic images and video, authorities said Sunday.
Justin Robert Newton, 43, was arraigned Saturday before a magistrate in 52 District Court. He was ordered held without bond in the Oakland County Jail.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, detectives assigned to the Pontiac Division were able to close the book on a months-long investigation in the case involving child sexually abusive material.
“Child predators and those that seek to prey on children are some of the most disturbing incidents that we investigate” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “This disgusting criminal behavior often creates lifelong trauma in the victimized children, and we look forward to holding this individual accountable.”
The case started after the Sheriff’s Office last October received about Newton and opened an investigation. On Thursday afternoon, investigators from the Sheriff’s Office Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) executed a search warrant on Bennet Street to process a laptop and mobile device belonging to Newton.
CCU investigators uncovered a large quantity of images and video showing underage individuals in a sexually explicit manner. Newton was taken into custody without incident.
Investigators presented the case to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office where, prosecutors authorized five counts of aggravated possession of child sexually explicit material and five counts of using a computer in the commission of a crime.
Each of the charges is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine, officials said.
A probable cause conference is scheduled for Jan. 4 and a preliminary exam is scheduled for Jan. 11.