Man Pleads Guilty, Persuaded Moms To Abuse Kids
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A Redford Township man faces up to 15 years to life in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to several charges of child pornography.
The 41-year-old Steven Demink is accused of persuading mothers in several states to sexually assault their young children and send him images.
He is now facing six charges in connection with this case. Seven additional charges were dropped as part of plea agreement.
Speaking to reporters, Monday, defense attorney Timothy Dinan said his client regrets his actions, and has taken responsibility by pleading guilty.
"Steve has expressed a lot of remorse... he's very sorry for this, and it's a shame that he couldn't ask for help. I think that other adults who are involved in this don't ask for help like this. Steve's problem I think, was that there was no one that he could turn to," Dinan said.
Dinan said that Demink does not have a criminal history and that may help him.
"It's one of many elements that the pre-sentence report will take into account. I believe that it works in his favor, in as much as that there is no other enhancements to the penalties. But, these are very severe penalties he's looking at, so, I certainly think that the crimes themselves are going to be more reflective of what the actual charges will be," Dinan said.
The indictment said Demink used the name Dalton St. Clair and posed as a therapist on various websites to meet single mothers. Authorities say he connected with mothers in New Hampshire, Idaho and Florida, and coerced and enticed them to engage in sexual acts with their children and send images via e-mail or through a live web stream. The children ranged in age from 3 to 15, according to court documents.
The arrested mothers include Rebecca Nail, who lived in New Hampshire when prosecutors say the crimes occurred. She pleaded guilty in December to producing child pornography, which carries a possible sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison, and is scheduled to be sentenced March 21 in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Va.
Candice Miller of Lee County, Fla., has pleaded not guilty to five counts and was being held without bond in Florida and faces a May 2 trial in federal court in Fort Myers, federal defender Martin DerOvanesian said. She also faces state charges connected to the case, he said.
Prosecutors say Demink is also linked to four other mothers in Indiana, Georgia, Illinois and Oregon but has not been charged with crimes related to those communications.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mulcahy said those cases are not part of the indictment but can be considered during sentencing set for June.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
