ESCANABA — A 65-year-old Gladstone man arrested on 10 felony charges related to possessing child pornography is scheduled to appear in Delta County Circuit Court next month when he may make a plea or set a trial date.

Michael Ralph Saari, of 819 N. 4th St., Gladstone, was arrested on five counts of possession of child sexually-abusive material and five counts of using a computer to commit those crimes following an investigation by the Michigan State Police task force on Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) from Marquette.

Each charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum punishment of four years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Each count of using a computer to commit a crime (with a maximum imprisonment of four years to less than 10 years) is punishable by a maximum seven-year prison term and a maximum fine of $5,000.

The 10 charges stem from crimes committed on April 18 in Delta County, according to court records.

Saari remains lodged in the county jail in lieu of 10 percent of a $75,000 bond that was reduced from an original bond amount of $200,000.

He has been ordered to have no firearms, alcohol or illegal drugs. He must submit to random drug testing. He cannot have contact with children under the age of 18 years and he cannot possess pornographic material.

Saari is scheduled for a hearing in circuit court on June 18 when he may make a plea or set a trial date.

The Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit has oversight over the statewide ICAC Task Force, which includes more than 50 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working together to investigate offenders who use the internet, online communication systems, or computer technology to sexually exploit children.

— — —

Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net