MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich — A Muskegon County church leader pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography this week.
Daniel Byron DeVries, of Fruitport Township, originally faced six felony counts of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime.
This week, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexually abusive material and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. The other counts were dropped.
DeVries was arrested back in March by the Muskegon County Justice for Women Task Force and the FBI West Michigan-Based Child Exploitation Task Force.
Muskegon Prosecutor DJ Hilson said DeVries held various roles in which he had contact with youth in the community.
DeVries was a deacon at Unity Reformed Church in Norton Shores. He also volunteered at an organization called Kids Hope Network which runs a program at Churchill Elementary School.
The superintendent of Mona Shores Public Schools, Bill O'Brien, said DeVries mentored one student at the school.
O'Brien said DeVries never left the main office unsupervised. He also said DeVries did have a background check completed through Mona Shores Public Schools and New Hope prior to his involvement in the program.
O'Brien said the program took place in the conference room in the main office with the door open at all times or directly across from the main office in the art room, which is all windows.
He said office staff were present in the main office while DeVries was with the student.
Upon the news of DeVries' arrest, Mona Shores Public Schools terminated the mentoring program with Kids Hope.
The Muskegon County Prosecutor urged parents to talk to their children who may have been around DeVries and to call the police if they have any concerns.
Authorities said in March that they do not believe the explicit images seized are not of local children.
DeVries will be sentenced in February.
