Michigan Attorney Bill Schuette announced that former police officer Matthew Parsons has pleaded guilty to three felony charges related to downloading child pornography.
On July 27, Parsons pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexually abusive material, one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of recording an unclothed person.
“While this man did not physically molest a child, he victimized them over and over every time he downloaded and shared child pornography, and as a father both acts are equally heartbreaking,” said Schuette in a press release. “I consider it to be one of my most important responsibilities to secure justice for Michigan’s most vulnerable.”
As a part of his plea he will be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years.
Parsons resigned from The Farmington Hills Police Department on June 15, 2016 following Schuette’s investigation.
The investigation began following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual had been downloading sexually abusive images. After further investigation, it was revealed that it was Parsons downloading these images.
In addition to the the child porn, Parsons had also surreptitiously filmed an adult in the nude. It was determined none of these act were done using city property or while Parsons was on duty.
Parsons is expected to be sentenced before Judge Nanci Grant in Oakland County Circuit Court on Wednesday, August 17.
