LANSING - Attorney General Mike Cox, together with the Michigan State Police, announced today that Steven Michael Waclawski was convicted after a jury trial on all counts of criminal sexual conduct and child sexually abusive material. Waclawski was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Macomb County from March 1986 until July 1990.

            "Harming children is scandalous enough, but when harm is done to children by those who should protect them, the crime is even more horrifying," Cox said. "I would like to thank the Michigan State Police for all of their hard work in this investigation. This is a good example of how our system of justice works when agencies work together."

            Steven Michael Waclawski, 54, of St. Clair Shores, was charged in this case as a result of his being arrested in Illinois after he traveled there to meet an undercover officer he thought was a minor for sex.

            The Michigan Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, operated by the Michigan State Police (MSP), was assisting both the Ohio and the Illinois ICAC in the arrest of Waclawski in Illinois after he traveled there to have sex with a minor as part of an undercover investigation. The Michigan ICAC and MSP investigators obtained and executed search warrants on the defendant's home and office computers on March 20, 2006.

            In reviewing the materials seized from Waclawski's home, investigators discovered hundreds of images of male child pornography, including some 3 dozen images suspected to be manufactured by Waclawski. Several pictures appeared to be taken in his home. The lead ICAC investigator on the case, from the Sumpter Township Police Department, was able to identify the 3 victims in this case.

            After a contentious pre-trial period, including an interlocutory appeal by the People to admit evidence of his activities in Illinois and Ohio, Waclawski was tried on 1 count of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the first degree, punishable by up to life in prison; 2 counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the second degree, punishable by up to 15 years; 5 counts of Using a Computer to Produce Child Sexually Abusive Material, punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and 1 count of Production of Child Sexually Abusive Material, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The trial began on May 6, 2008 and finished on May 15, 2006, with the jury finding the defendant guilty on all charges.

            Waclawski remains in the Macomb County jail until his sentencing on June 26, 2008, where he faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

            Since its restructuring, Cox's Child and Public Protection Unit has arrested 194 Internet sexual predators. Attorney General Cox encourages parents to visit www.michigan.gov/ag for tips on safe Internet usage for children. Citizens can also report suspected Internet child predators via the Report Internet Abuses Against Children link, or by calling the Child and Public Protection Unit at (313) 456-0180.

            The Michigan Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is operated by the Michigan State Police and is comprised of local and federal law enforcement officers.

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