CBS’s Survivor is known for many things – adventure, drama, humor, the list goes on. The contestants are regularly heard to say that it’s the “adventure of a lifetime” and “an experience like no other!” Unfortunately for Michael Skupin, a two-time Survivor contestant, he is also facing an experience like no other at this time. However, in this case he won’t be on TV for his survival skills, but rather, is headed for prison for possessing child pornography.
The kiddie porn allegations came to light in Michigan during another investigation, in which Skupin was accused of running a Ponzi scheme. One of the people claiming to be victimized by his business called Pay It Forward, contacted a local reporter, presumably in the hopes of warning away other potential investors. According to police officers that investigated the kiddie porn allegations, each investor forked out $10,000, which was then reimbursed out of funds from more recent investors. That’s exactly the way a Ponzi scheme works. Remember Bernie Madoff?
During the course of the investigation, Skupin’s two laptop computers were confiscated by police. That’s when they discovered evidence of child pornography. According to Diane Salter, an investigator with the Attorney General’s office, two of the computers found at Skupin’s home contained images of young children “naked or in the midst of a sexual act.”
He was charged with six counts of Possession of Child Sexually Abusive Materials, five counts of Larceny by Conversion, and a single count of Racketeering/Conducting a criminal enterprise. All three of these are felonies under Michigan law, punishable by multiple years in prison. Skupin accepted a plea bargain for the charges related to the ponzi scheme, and pled guilty to a single count of Larceny by Conversion.
However, with regard to his charges, Skupin decided to risk it and go to trial.
His attorney argued in court that Skupin had not ever accessed the images found on his computer. “You’re not going to have anything … to show he has access to them.” he told the jury, after explaining that pictures on a person’s computer do not make them guilty. The jury, however, didn’t agree with this assessment.
Skupin was found guilty on four of the six counts of possession of child pornography. (In Michigan, the technical legal charge is possession of child sexually abusive material.) On the day his trial ended, Attorney General Bill Schuette’s Office released a statement to the public about the conviction. “The children in these videos and images were exploited, and each time the images were shared and viewed continued their suffering. My hope is that today’s conviction will bring some closure to the families and the children that are victims in this case.”
Skupin has since been sentenced to serve 1 to 4 years in a Michigan prison by Oakland County Circuit Judge Wendy Potts. In addition, once he is released Skupin will be required to register as a sex offender on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry and will be banned from computer use outside of work. Although his sentence is surprisingly short, given the charges, the restrictions on his freedom after his release from prison are not uncommon in Michigan.
If you or a loved one have been accused of committing a sex crime, you are going to need an attorney who deals with this issue often to understand what’s involved, and be able to mount a strong and aggressive defense. The skilled attorneys at the Kronzek Firm have decades of experience handling sex crimes in Michigan, including kiddie porn cases. We can help you too! Call us immediately at 866-766-5245. An attorney is standing by to discuss your case 24/7.