Sgt. Matthew Lavern Guy was a 17-year veteran of the Kent Sheriff's Department and a family man, although in his spare time, the sergeant cruised the Internet under the name 'cop284' looking for underage boys.
Guy is charged with two counts of using the Internet to communicate with an underage "persona," which according to the Michigan Attorney General, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Guy is also charged with three counts of using the Internet to send obscene material, a charge that could translate into four years in prison.
Guy's child porn activities first tipped off investigators when he tried soliciting sex from a New Jersey police officer posing as a 14-year-old boy in a chat room. Guy also allegedly used a webcam to send the "boy" naked photos of himself.
"It’s hard to understand how someone who is in a position of authority and has the public trust can allow himself to get involved in trying use the Internet to meet an underage person," Joan Irvine, executive director for Adult Sites Against Child Pornography (ASACP), told XBiz. "Plus this officer should have known how law enforcement track surfers using the IP address. Being a pedophile is a real sickness. At least in this case, he was caught and is being prosecuted, which is more than can be said for the many priest who molested children."
It took investigators nine months to build up enough evidence against Guy before making an arrest. Evidence was tracked through the sergeant's Internet Service Provider.
The Grand Rapid Press reports that investigators also tried to bait Guy into setting up a meeting with the alleged young boy.
Guy's home was raided by co-workers at the sheriff's department and state investigators. He was arraigned in Rockford District Court and released on a personal recognizance bond for $80,000, the Grand Rapids Press reports.
Until Guy appears in court later this month, he is prohibited from using a computer. Guy has also been fired from his job.
"This should be another wake-up call for parents," Irvine continued. "Monitor your children while they are on the Internet."
