A former corrections officer from Eaton County, Ethan Eversman, age 24 of Ionia, has been indicted on federal charges including sexual exploitation of a minor and possession and distribution of child pornography. As reported by The Detroit News, Eversman is accused of convincing a minor from New York to send him explicit videos and images, a series of events that unfolded from 2021 through June 2024.
According to documentation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan, if convicted Eversman faces up to 30 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten emphasized the importance of protecting "our most defenseless citizens from egregious sex crimes." Additionally, following an investigation sparked by a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as WOOD TV reports, he shared this explicit material with others.
The case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a national campaign geared toward the protection of children against online exploitation and abuse. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan, Cheyvoryea Gibson, announced the collaborative efforts between the FBI, Michigan State Police, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that led to this indictment. In a similar vein, Colonel James F. Grady II from the Michigan State Police highlighted their commitment to investigating and arresting those who "exploit children."
