Former Milan man won't be criminally charged for lending children iPod with naked photos of himself
A former Milan man accused of lending two young girls an iPod containing naked photos of himself won't be criminally charged, prosecutors said.
Monroe County prosecutors denied charges against the 29-year-old man, who now lives in Saginaw, based on insufficient evidence to show intent. Police said statements from the two girls about seeing naked images weren't enough for prosecutors to seek obscenity charges.
Milan Police Chief Jeff Lewis said the department began investigating the man after the mother of two girls, ages 9 and 12, told her about seeing the naked photos on Jan. 16. The photos were apparently of the iPod’s owner, who is a relative, standing up naked and holding his genitalia, reports said.
The girls’ mother gave the iPod to police, but the images were deleted and were not viewable. Police learned the man lived in the same house with the girls for a few months over the summer and frequently let them use the device to listen to music. He left it for them after moving out, reports said.
The girls said they were looking at the iPod together when they discovered the naked pictures. They both said they didn't want to tell their mother because they feared getting in trouble and retaliation from the relative. But it bothered them, they told police during separate interviews in their mother’s presence.
Officers spoke with the man, who said he let them keep the iPod when he moved out in August, but only after he erased the photos. If any remained and the girls saw them, it was not because he showed the photos or instructed the girls on how to find them in the device, he said. He told police he only showed the girls the iPod to listen to music.
The report was forwarded to prosecutors, who denied the charges earlier this month, reports said.
Lewis defended the process and the officers for taking the complaint seriously.
“It was investigated and sent to the prosecutor for review . . . at any rate, charges were declined based on the facts in the report,” he wrote in an e-mail. He declined further comment.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Kelly Davenport
Tue, Feb 15, 2011 : 11:41 p.m.
Because this is a story involving sensitive content, a comment was removed for placing blame.
MAM
Tue, Feb 15, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
i live in milan, and this is the 2nd time iv hurd or seen these things happen, not to long ago an older man was going around showing his junk to little girls. it didnt catch my attention untill it happined to my brothers friends daughter who is very close to my family. it is very serious.
RJA
Tue, Feb 15, 2011 : 5:35 a.m.
I could care less what adults put on their iPod. A 9 and 12 year old should not be looking at pictures, or listening to music without their mother or parents approval. Like Hatter said, Wake up folks!
gina
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 1:43 p.m.
I didn't even know this story exhisted...I am the mother of these two little girls and this article was written on the perpatrators words. His word against our girls. He didn't 'lend' the IPod, he gave it to them to look at after TELLING them about how he keeps pictures on it!!! They had NO idea what kind of pictures and being kids they were curious so they went looking into the IPod...sick people out there...and SAD that so many believe this was handled appropriately...who knows how many other kids have been subjected to his form of abuses...
snoopdog
Tue, Feb 15, 2011 : 2:51 a.m.
This never should have made it to the prosecutor's office to begin with. He let the girls borrow the device to listen to music, why were they snooping around to invade his privacy ?
Chase Ingersoll
Tue, Feb 15, 2011 : 2:27 a.m.
Thank you for specifying that the man was from Milan and not Ann Arbor. Of course, Ann Arbor kids being clever little pranksters would probably have Facebooked their friends pictures and gotten themselves arrested.
Halter
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 10:37 p.m.
This IS being blown out of proportion but for the wrong reasons.... What this does not indicate is any type of sexually implied activity when the photos appeared on someone's used iPod... What it DOES indicate that there are people out there that pass on old electronic equipment without deleting EVERYTHING on them first, including all photos, movies, and games....the new owner can then put on it what they want...I'd be more concerned about the lyrics in the songs than the photos -- everything should have been reviewed by the parents before allowing the kids to keep the iPod... Wake up, folks. This is adult responsibility, not kids.
Halter
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.
Let me reword that.....I would be AS concerned about the Lyrics as any photos that might have been on the Ipod....
redwingshero
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 8:22 p.m.
A story like this that isn't being blown way out of proportion? I say to the prosecutors office, well done. Don't need any more non-violent offenders on the central registry. Just like those teenage couples that have consensual sex when their seniors in high school and just the guy gets charged, if the girls parents find out...
Amalie Nash
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 8:11 p.m.
The headline of this story has been modified.
Marshall Applewhite
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 7:34 p.m.
This is being blown way out of proportion...... I mean, who doesn't keep a bunch of nude photos of themselves of their iPod?!?
steve h
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.
snehal, i think it's called sarcasm
Snehal
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 9:23 p.m.
Do you?
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
This is why I only carry a dumb phone....no camera, no pictures....who can afford the legal fees? It ain't like I'm working with Brett Favre's paycheck.
Marshall Applewhite
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 7:35 p.m.
second "of" should be "on"....typing too fast for my own good.