By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
An Otsego-area man who pleaded guilty to charges related to the production and possession of child pornography learned his fate on Thursday, July 7.
Appearing in the 48th Circuit Court, Steven Lee Foupht received a sentence to 50 to 75 in prison.
Foupht previously pleaded guilty to multiple counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, aggravated child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime.
Members of the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department arrested Foupht on Wednesday, Nov. 10, after receiving a tip that he was in possession of child pornography on his cellular phone. Search warrants were then obtained and executed for his smartphone and his residence.
“Upon examining Foupht’s smartphone, investigators discovered it contained a large amount of child sexually abusive material that Foupht had downloaded, as well as material he is believed to have produced himself involving two minor children he had access to,” Allegan County Lieutenant Mike Brown said in a press release at the time.
The discovery of this material led to criminal charges being authorized by the Allegan County prosecutor’s office.
Those with information regarding possible child sexual exploitation are asked to report it to the CyberTipLine at http://www.missingkids.org/cybertipline. The Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force also provides resources at http://www.michiganicac.com.