Child porn sting snares prominent Metro Detroiters
Child porn sting snares prominent Metro Detroiters
The Brief
-
Three men from Metro Detroit appeared in federal court on charges in connection with child pornography on Tuesday.
-
Two of the men live at the same Detroit home, while a third works as a doctor in Farmington Hills.
-
Evidence from seized phones shows the men exchanging messages about obtaining illegal photos and videos.
(FOX 2) – A disturbing case of child pornography appeared in federal court in Detroit after three men were arrested and charged with possessing footage.
The defendants include a doctor, a lawyer, and a psychotherapist, who reside in Farmington Hills and Detroit respectively.
Big picture view
An FBI sting in Toledo ended with arrests in a horrific case involving men from Metro Detroit possessing hundreds of images and videos containing child pornography.
Two of the men appeared in court on Tuesday and were denied bond.
According to federal complaints, Joshua Ronnebaum, 45, and Brian Tacon, 51, who live at the same home in Palmer Woods in Detroit, had exchanged messages alleging they had possessed or sought the video and photos.
In one case, Tacon spoke to an undercover agent about finding a child and molesting him, before asking if he had more videos to share.
Ronnebaum’s phone was seized during the sting, which showed encrypted messages about inviting children to his home while he worked in Japan as an English teacher.
The phone had more than 155 images and videos on it.
Dig deeper
The third defendant was identified as Lincoln Erickson.
The Farmington Hills doctor is currently on probation for domestic violence for an incident in 2024. Evidence seized on his phone indicated he discussed plans to travel to Thailand and abuse children.
What’s next
A grand jury may hand up more charges.
More in U.S.
Resident Says She Can’t Open Windows Anymore Because of ‘Rotten’ Smell from Living Near Elon Musk’s Giant Data Center
People647
JonBenet Ramsey’s Father Confirms Bombshell ‘Evidence’ in Murder
RealityTea854
Treasure Hunters Believed They’d Found $500 Million in Civil War Gold — Then the FBI Swooped In
Popular Mechanics474
A conviction of possessing child pornography comes with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison — regardless of the defendant’s background.
The Source
Federal complaints were cited for this story.
This game can be pretty tough, so we’ve got clues if you’re stuck on today’s puzzle, #921.
Yahoo Tech
It’s been an interesting week for Puka Nakua’s family.
Yahoo Sports
Michael Fiddle gives a full breakdown of Seahawks-Rams, including his favorite bet on the game and a few player props to target.
Yahoo Sports
The billionaire Musk ally said in April that he wants a “new Golden Age of science and discovery.”
Engadget
Treat your tree right after the 2025 holiday season with these expert-vetted products and tips from the pros.
Yahoo Shopping
If you’re flying for the holidays, here’s everything you need to know about the kinds of gifts TSA will allow through security.
Yahoo Personal Finance
Student loan rules are set to change in 2026. Here’s what borrowers need to know about repayment, forgiveness, and federal policy changes.
Yahoo Personal Finance
Arizona has the worst Pro Football Focus tackling grade in the league this season, as its defense has taken a step back in Year 3 of Gannon’s stay.
Yahoo Sports
Medline’s public debut on Wednesday caps the best IPO year since 2021, with Wall Street optimistic on the deals outlook heading into 2026.
Yahoo Finance
Joe Burrow does not seem to be enjoying the 2025 NFL season.
Yahoo SportsPowered by WPeMatico