Student faces child porn felony charge

An 18-year-old CMU student could face up to four years in prison for what police officers found on his computer.

Muskegon freshman Eric Ablin is charged with one count of possession of child sexually abusive material, which is considered a four-year felony, said Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick.

CMU Police officers began investigating the case on Oct. 18, said Police Chief Stan Dinius.

Dinius said the department had to file a search warrant with the prosecutor’s office to obtain the computer, which allegedly contained child sexually abusive material. After the prosecutor’s office issued the search warrant, CMU Police seized Ablin’s computer on Oct. 25 from his Wheeler Hall residence.

“We turned (the computer) over to an expert for a forensics exam,” Dinius said. “They discovered pictures that they felt were criminal in nature.”

Once CMU Police found what they considered “incriminating evidence,” the department filed the case with the prosecutor’s office on Dec. 27.

“It was received in, and charged by our office last month,” Burdick wrote in an e-mail to Central Michigan Life.

Officers arrested Ablin around ?11 a.m. Jan. 10. He was arraigned later that day, Burdick said.

County Trial Judge William Rush set Ablin’s bond at 10 percent of $6,000.

“Jail records do not show him currently (in the Isabella County Jail), so he must have posted his bond,” Burdick said.

Anne McLellan, Ablin’s court-appointed defense attorney, could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Ablin’s preliminary examination took place at 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Isabella County Courthouse, 300 N. Main St. Burdick said an additional preliminary examination has been scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Thursday.

Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe said the university can deal with cases involving a student who faces a charge of possession of child sexually abusive material in two ways – through Sections 3.2.18 and 3.2.29 in CMU’s Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures.

Section 3.2.18 states a student shall not abuse university computer time or equipment, while Section 3.2.29 states a violation of federal, state or local law in a manner which affects the university shall be treated as an offense under these regulations.

“Those are two (codes) that we can/could take action on this student,” Roscoe said.

apiazza@cm-life.com