A Wakefield man faces charges that he possessed and trafficked child pornography.
Troopers from the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested 41-year-old George Hilty. He was taken into custody following an investigation that was initiated by the Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, after investigators learned that Hilty may have accessed and shared illicit content online.
Officials said a search of Hilty’s residence resulted in digital evidence being seized.
Hilty is charged with three counts of child sexually abusive material (aggravated possession). He was arraigned in the 98th District Court of Gogebic County on Thursday, and is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
The MSP Computer Crimes Unit encourages parents to speak to their children and family members about safe use of the internet. There are many resources available to assist in keeping children safe online. The NCMEC provides a comprehensive list of resources on their website at https://www.missingkids.org. The Michigan ICAC Task Force provides resources at https://www.michigan.gov/ICAC.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, report it to the CyberTipline at https://www.missingkids.org/cybertipline.
