Detroit police officer Earl Raynard Anderson Jr., who was living in Warren at the time of the investigation, has avoided an immediate felony conviction and instead received a deferred sentence and 11 months of probation for a computer-related crime tied to sexualized text messages he allegedly sent to his 12-year-old stepdaughter. Under the court deal, the felony computer charge can be knocked down if he successfully completes probation and complies with court-ordered programs. The case stays under court supervision and is set to come back to the judge next year.
According to Macomb Daily, the disposition gives Anderson 11 months of supervised probation and holds open a four-year computer-crime count that could be reduced to a misdemeanor assault if he meets all the court’s conditions. Court records show that a related charge of accosting a child for immoral purposes was handled as part of the plea arrangement. A review hearing in the case is scheduled for April 21, 2027.
Plea, Earlier Hearings and Remand
Anderson entered a no-contest plea to the computer-use charge under Michigan’s deferred-sentencing statute, which allows a case to be dismissed after a successful period of probation. The file was previously sent up to Macomb County Circuit Court following a preliminary exam. Sentencing was postponed at an earlier hearing when probation officials reported they could not complete a presentence interview, which stalled the process and pushed the timeline back. Those steps, along with the mechanics of the deferred plea, were laid out by C&G Newspapers.
Allegations and Evidence
Prosecutors say the texts were sent on Feb. 22, 2025, and contend that Anderson urged the girl to delete messages on her phone while he deleted messages on his own device. Investigators say the girl’s mother later went to police, and technicians were able to recover the deleted messages. The child is reported to be the daughter of Anderson’s wife, and Warren’s Special Victims Unit handled the investigation, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Sentence Conditions and Department Action
As part of the sentence, Anderson must complete a sexual-abuse prevention program and participate in case-management meetings with his probation officer. He is also prohibited from having contact with anyone under 17, except for his biological children. Court records show he previously spent 19 days in jail in connection with the case and received credit for that time. He remains suspended without pay from the Detroit Police Department while the criminal case and departmental discipline play out, according to reporting from Macomb Daily.
Prosecutor Reaction and What Comes Next
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido did not mince words when the case was first bound over to circuit court, stating, “We should be able to trust police officers to protect our children, not prey on them,” a comment reported in earlier coverage. Under the plea, Anderson’s case stays on the court’s docket through next year while officials monitor his progress on probation. The court will revisit the matter at the review hearing to determine whether he has complied with all terms, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
