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A Saint Ignace man has been arrested on child sex charges.
Eighteen-year-old Tyrel Lee Matson was taken into custody last week after an investigation by the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Investigators say they seized digital evidence in a search at his residence, after learning that he had been viewing child sexually abusive material online.
Matson faces one count of child sexually abusive material-aggravated possession, four counts of child sexually abusive material-possession, and five counts of using a computer to commit a crime. The most serious charges include prison terms of up to 10 years.
He was arraigned Friday in 92nd District Court, and released on a personal recognizance bond.
If convicted, Matson faces up to 10 years in prison for the child sexually abusive material-aggravated possession, four years for child sexually abusive material, and 10 years for using a computer to commit a crime.
The MSP Computer Crimes Unit encourages parents to speak to their children about the safe use of the internet. There are many resources available to parents to assist in keeping children safe online. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides a comprehensive list of resources on their website at http://www.missingkids.org. The MSP ICAC Task Force also provides resources at http://www.michiganicac.com.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, report it to the CyberTipLine.
