By Staff
LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox Tuesday announced the arrest of Thomas Russell, 41, of Bridgman, who allegedly used the Internet to send obscene images and to arrange a sexual encounter with who he thought was a 14-year-old girl, but was actually an investigator.
Russell traveled from his home in Bridgman to meet the girl in Novi, where he was arrested on Tuesday morning.
Russell was conveyed to the Novi Police Department for an interview with an Attorney General agent.
He admitted to traveling to meet the minor and will be arraigned today in 52-1 District Court.
Two search warrants are being executed for Russell's home in Berrien County.
Russell faces five felony charges stemming from his Nov. 30 arrest, including one count of child sexually abusive activity, a 20-year and/or $100,000 felony; one count of using the Internet to commit the crime of child sexually abusive activity, a 20-year and/or $20,000 felony; and three counts of distributing obscene matter to a minor, a four-year and/or $5,000 felony.
Russell is the 21st arrest in Cox's campaign utilizing undercover investigators to identify and prosecute Internet child predators.
The Novi Police Department assisted Attorney General investigators in the case.