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Steve Myers
Site Admin
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April 26, 2007
FLINT – A self-described youth pastor was sentenced to prison this morning after pleading to 48 counts of child pornography last month, said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
Circuit Court Judge Archie Hayman sentenced Paul L. Gagnon, 51, of Flint, to a minimum of 13 years and up to a maximum of 20 years in State prison for his actions. Today's sentencing was the culmination of an investigation and prosecution that had uncovered an extensive amount of evidence showing Gagnon had manufactured, possessed, and distributed child pornography and used a computer to commit a crime.
The investigation began when a teenage boy who had been living with Gagnon discovered an elaborate spy camera system that Gagnon had set up in a bedroom and a bathroom at his home. Law enforcement seized not only thousands of images on Gagnon’s computer and videotape of various sexual acts and nudity involving minors but also an extensive database and records system that Gagnon had kept to document his child porn activities.
Leyton said that over many years Gagnon took on the name of “Pastor Paul” while working with disadvantaged youth in the area. He would invite the children to his home and take them to local churches, trips to Cedar Point, and to a cabin up north. In addition to his youth pastor activities, Gagnon also operated a home repair business.
“Child pornography constitutes a grave and heinous crime against some of the most vulnerable citizens in our society,” Prosecutor Leyton has commented about this case. “The message is clear: if you choose to prey on children, you will be held accountable for your actions and you will be prosecuted and you will be punished under the law.”
“What Mr. Gagnon perpetrated on these children is deplorable. Today’s sentencing means a lot to me, to our community, and to the victims and their families,” said Prosecutor Leyton. “I can only hope that this will allow our victims to have some sense of closure and that it will help them on their long road to healing,” he concluded.
http://www.co.genesee.mi.us/Prosecutors/News%20Youth%20Pastor%20Sentenced%20to%20Prison.htm |
_________________ Steve Myers |
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Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:47 pm |
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