A Roseville man working as a high school wrestling referee faces serious allegations after being charged with sending a teen inappropriate messages on social media; the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office has made clear its intent to hold him accountable for his actions, as reported by the Freep. Stephen Livings, 43, is facing felony charges, one count of accosting a child for immoral purposes and another for using a computer to commit a crime, and he was released on a $10,000 bond after pleading not guilty in court.
Prosecutors paint a disturbing picture, alleging that Livings first approached the student for her social media information, then later took her phone, input his contact information, and subsequently sent her inappropriate communications, and “On another occasion, they said, he took her phone and added his contact information”, Detroit Free Pass reports; the Michigan High School Athletic Association responded by suspending Livings upon learning of the charges and emphasized their reliance on background checks for officials in a statement that was obtained by CBS Detroit, noting they had found no prior issues with Livings.
The Warren Police Department credited the teen’s parents for their vigilance and involvement in bringing the issue to light, as conveyed by Warren police Sgt. John Gajewski, in a statement to ClickOnDetroit. Livings had been officiating since 2020 and had been present at state championships without any prior criminal record surfacing during his time as an official.
Despite the allegations, Livings’ attorney, Donald Andrews, urged the public to withhold judgment until the legal proceedings conclude, stating, "Mr. Livings is presumed innocent under the law", "We look forward to challenging the allegations charged by the state and will pursue the truth in the court of law," as he told ClickOnDetroit. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido underscored the gravity of the charges, stating that the conduct is "disturbing." The Prosecutor's Office will press on to seek justice and maintain a commitment to protecting the community's children, which Freep reported. Livings is expected back in court for a probable cause conference on Feb. 19.
