Sterling Heights Man Arrested After 4-Month Investigation Into Online Child Sex Solicitation
STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ) - A 51-year-old Sterling Heights man is facing computer crime charges after authorities say he tried to have sex with a child.
Kevin Prodin was arrested Tuesday after a four month investigation by the Macomb County Sheriff's Computer Crimes Team.
Detectives launched an investigation back in October after a then-unidentified Prodin placed an advertisement on a popular website. Through the website, and subsequently through e-mails and text messages, police say Prodin communicated with an undercover officer who he thought was an underage female.
Prodin was arrested in Sterling Heights on Tuesday after driving to a location where "he thought that he was going to meet with the child for the purposes of engaging in sexual activity," according to police.
Sheriff detectives subsequently executed a search warrant at Prodin's home and seized evidence.
On Thursday, Prodin was arraigned via video at the 41B District Court of Clinton Township on one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes and two counts of using a computer to the computer or internet to communicate with another to commit a crime.
Prodin was released after posting 10 percent of a $15,000 bond, and is due back in court on March 7.
