Earl Raynard Anderson Jr., a Detroit police officer, is facing an increased burden of accusations after a judge added a new charge over his alleged inappropriate communication with a 12-year-old girl. The additional indictment, using a computer to commit a crime, shadows the initial charge of accosting a child for immoral purposes, both carrying a potential four-year sentence. This development occurred after Tuesday's preliminary exam, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
Anderson, age 37, found himself suspended from his police duties in March when the claims came to light, further complicated by the connection between the officer and the victim – she is the daughter of his wife. Text messages recovered by law enforcement painted a clandestine picture, with Anderson urging the young girl to keep their exchanges secret and to erase any trace of their communication. These proceedings took place in Warren on February 22, a detail made public by ClickOnDetroit.
Following a ruling from District Court Judge Suzanne Faunce that there is sufficient evidence, the case is set to move to trial. The course is charted toward justice, with the next court appearance scheduled for April 21. "We should be able to trust police officers to protect our children, not prey on them," Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido stated in a press release, sentiments echoing the community's collective shock and disappointment, as mentioned by The Detroit News.
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison expressed distress over the "concerning" and "troubling" allegations, reinforcing the administrative investigation underway by the department's Internal Affairs Unit. Currently, Anderson remains on administrative leave without pay as the institution grasps for accountability. His bond is set at $50,000 with strict stipulations restricting his contact with minors and use of the Internet. The police department and DPD chose not to comment further on the ongoing case.
