Today in the 33rd Circuit Court, Lon James Kowalske, 61, of Boyne City, was sentenced to 12 months in jail and 48 months of probation on charges of possessing child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime.

The sentences were identical and will run concurrently. Kowalske had pleaded guilty on September 29, 2017.

It was discovered that Kowalske had numerous videos and images of very young children being abused sexually when he purchased a new computer and asked that some files be transferred to it from his old computer.

The Michigan State Police then investigated and reviewed two computer drives, finding over 200 child sexually abusive videos and images.

In sentencing the defendant to probation and jail, rather than prison, Judge Roy C. Hayes III cited the fact that the defendant had no prior criminal history and his need for intensive treatment to address his interest in these activities.

Also, today Judge Hayes sentenced Warren Edwin Witham, Jr., 37, of Boyne Falls, to 12 months in jail and 36 months of probation for possession of child sexually abusive material.

Witham had solicited and received nude photographs of an underaged victim. The activity was discovered by the victim’s mother who had installed a device on her child’s computer to monitor their activity.

Both Kowalske and Witham will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of their convictions. Neither will be allowed to use a computer during the time of their probationary terms.