Port Huron man sentenced to jail, probation, for child porn possession

A man who was arrested for possession of child pornography was sentenced to 10 months in jail and three years of probation Monday.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Michael West also ordered that 20-year-old Stephen Hertzfeld be sentenced under the Holmes Youth Trainee Act. The law allows young defendants who plead guilty and complete their sentence to have their an offense removed from their criminal record.

Hertzfeld was arrested in February after the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force searched his dorm room at St. Clair County Community College and reportedly found he had been accessing child pornography online.

In May, Hertzfeld pleaded guilty to six felony counts, including one count of aggravated possession of child sex abuse material, three counts of possession of child sex abuse material and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

St. Clair County Assistant Prosecutor Cailin Wilson opposed the application of HYTA to Hertzfeld's case, saying the images found in his possession depicted children, some less than a year old, being molested.

"This isn't a case of a 19-year-old looking at pictures of a 17-year-old," Wilson said.

Wilson also cited an evaluation of Hertzfeld that recommended he receive outpatient psychotherapy.

In his decision, however, West said Hertzfeld hadn't shown signs of acting on the images he'd downloaded, and pointed out his HYTA status could be removed if he recommits the offense.

Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.