IONIA — A now-former Eaton County corrections deputy admitted possessing, distributing and manufacturing child pornography when an investigator interviewed him at the county jail on Monday, according to a court document.
Ethan Eversman, 24, of Ionia, admitted "requesting and exchanging nude images" with a teenage girl and distributing child porn on message platforms, a Michigan State police trooper testified in a warrant hearing on Tuesday.
Evidence of that activity was found on Eversman's phone, the trooper testified.
Eaton County Sheriff's Office officials said Eversman was fired on Monday, one day before he was arraigned in Ionia County District Court on 14 counts, including four counts of distributing or promoting child pornography, three counts of aggravated possession, and seven counts of using a computer to commit a crime. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted as charged.
Court records indicate Eversman was represented by the Ionia County Public Defender Office, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Friday.
State police began investigating after receiving tips through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the trooper testified in a hearing that led to charges being issued against Eversman. The tips indicated that a user identified as Eversman had uploaded seven files of child sexually abusive materials, the trooper testified.
Investigators interviewed Eversman and conducted a search at his home in Ionia.
Besides requesting and exchanging nude images with a girl who was between the ages of 13 and 16, Eversman "confessed" to sending child pornography on Kik Messenger and Session in order obtain additional child sexually abuse materials, the trooper said in the warrant hearing.
"Ethan stated he was typically at his home in Ionia when downloading or viewing CSAM," the trooper testified.
Eversman was arrested and lodged in the Ionia County Jail. Court records indicate he posted a surety bond.
A hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to move forward was set for July 15.
Contact Ken Palmer atkpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj
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