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HOUGHTON -- Three cases involving sex crimes had hearings in 97th District Court Wednesday.
31-year old Donald David Brooks was charged with one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. As a part of a third-party sting operation, a decoy was used to get to Brooks, where he was arrested by Michigan State Police and was held in jail until Wednesday's hearing.
Brooks's attorney, Jacob Wisti, argued his client was not a flight risk and bond should be reexamined, as he stayed in the area rather than leaving. Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Ball disagreed and said if Brooks leaves jail the community is at risk.
"The allegations here are very serious. We have a pedophile preying on children in our community," she said. "The goal of bond is to ensure that the defendant comes to court, but it's also to ensure the safety of the community."
Judge Nicholas Daavettila agreed with Wisti and granted a personal recognizance bond, meaning Brooks was released. His bond conditions prohibit him from using the internet or social media. Brooks's preliminary examination was waived and his case is now bound over to 12th Circuit Court, pending an arraignment date.
21-year old Grant Winslow Fredrickson took a plea deal for creating AI deepfakes of unclothed persons, using someone else's face on those photos. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts. One of disseminating an intimate deep fake and one of using a computer to commit a crime. Gogebic County District Court Judge Anna Talaska presided over the case.
Fredrickson's attorney, Keith DeForge, said his client is pleading guilty to the two charges and if something more serious comes up from the police investigation into Fredrickson's computer then the prosecutor's office may bring forth different, more severe charges for CSAM (child sexually abusive material.)
Assistant Prosecutor Ashley Ball agreed and asked Judge Talaska to move the sentencing out to make sure the investigation concludes and witnesses are called forth.
According to 97th District Court, Fredrickson is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 16. He is currently out on bond and will be leaving the state for employment but will return for his next hearing.
Judge Daavettila resumed his duties and presided over a case involving the alleged sexual assault of a then minor.
27-year old Jacob Lawrence Tarvis was charged with fourth degree criminal sexual conduct. He is currently out on bond.
The preliminary examination had the alleged victim and reporting detective testify. After the preliminary examination, the matter was then bound over to 12th Circuit Court, according to a district court official. There is no current date for Tarvis's next hearing.