ALLEGAN, Mich. -- A 29-year-old Wyoming man was hired to care for two young girls in Allegan County but, instead, allegedly sexually abused them.
According to a news release issued by the Allegan County Sheriff's Office on Thursday afternoon, Gary Christopher Carlson has pleaded no contest to 26 felony charges. They include:
- 9 Counts Criminal Sexual Conduct First Degree
- 8 Counts Aggravated Criminal Sexually Abusive Material
- 8 Counts Using Computer to Commit Crime
- 1 Count Accosting a Minor for Immoral Purposes
The news release said that Carlson entered a no-contest plea in the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan. The charges stem from his alleged activity with two juvenile females, ages 2 and 14.
Carlson was taken into custody at his home following a joint investigation conducted by the Allegan County Sheriff's Office, in tandem with the FBI’s West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Task Force (WEBCHEX) and the Wyoming Police Department.
Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney Myrene Koch said Carlson will be sentenced on July 23rd.
"The convictions in this case were achieved through a great team effort with the Allegan County Sheriffs Office, the Prosecutor's Office, and of course the family involved. The safety of our children is vitally important in our community and a number one priority of the Prosecutor's Office," Koch said in a written statement after the plea was entered.
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Gary Carlson.