ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — A Wyoming man has been charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct and the production of child pornography.
28-year-old Gary Christopher Carlson, of Wyoming, was taken into custody on Friday, June 23.
Allegan County investigators say Carlson was hired through an online child care service to care for a 14-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl. He then allegedly made child sexual abusive materials while supervising the girls.
Carson has been charged with the following:
- 8 Counts of Aggravated Child Sexual Abusive Materials
- 8 Counts of Using a computer to commit a crime
- 9 Counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st degree
- 1 Count of Children-Accosting for Immoral Purposes
According to the warrant affidavit, Allegan County deputies obtained a search warrant of Carlson's cell phone and found multiple sexually abusive videos of the two-year-old girl.
He's also alleged to have had sexual conversations with the girl's 14-year-old sister.
Sheriff Frank Baker says families should not rely on the provider to properly vet a caregiver.
"There are some resources available as parents and employers. They can utilize "IChat" which is available through the state so they can run a criminal history. Obviously we're pretty familiar with the state sex offender registry," said Baker. "A lot of people utilize security cams in their home. Making them aware you have security cams throughout your home so they know they're being surveilled so hopefully that can deter anybody from doing anything inappropriate with your loved one inside your home."
The arrest was handled by the Wyoming Police Department, West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Task Force and the Allegan County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators are looking for anyone who may have hired Carson to watch their children. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Allegan County Sheriff's Office at 269-673-0500.
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