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Local News

Online undercover operation nabs man suspected of child pornography

An online undercover operation by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office in November, 2018 resulted in an undercover officer chatting online with a man who expressed interest in sexual contact with an underage child, according to a sheriff’s media release.

 

Philip Paauwe, 32, of Grandville, a teacher in the Grand Rapids School District, was identified by investigators as the person they were chatting with.

 

Paauwe was arrested Jan. 8 after the investigation revealed he was in possession of child pornography. The Kent County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday charged Paauwe with possession of child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime.

 

He is being held at the Kent County Correctional Facility on a $5,000 bond.

The investigation is ongoing; persons with information related to the case should contact Detective Joel Siemens at 616-233-0234.

 

The investigating detective is with the sheriff’s office and assigned to the West Michigan Based Child Exploitation Task Force. The Michigan State Police Sixth District Computer Crimes Unit assisted with the investigation.

 

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