MENOMINEE — A Menominee man was sentenced to prison for possessing child pornography.

Aaron Scott Kuchinka, 33, had pleaded guilty on June 21 to two felony charges of Aggravated Possession of Child Sexually Abusive Material, punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison. He was sentenced by 41st Circuit Court Judge Christopher S. Ninomiya on Oct. 7.

“Mr. Kuchinka’s sentence needed to reflect the seriousness of the offenses and send a message of deterrence to others who may choose to prey upon our children,” said Menominee County Prosecutor Jeffery T. Rogg, who announced the sentencing in a press release. “I appreciate Judge Ninomiya supporting me, by this stern prison sentence in protecting the vulnerable children of Menominee County.”

The discovery that Kuchinka was in possession of child sexually abusive material was discovered on Jan. 14, 2020, when Google LLC submitted a CyberTip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip was passed on to the Michigan State Police’s Eighth District Computer Crimes Unit.

The Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit has oversight over the statewide Michigan Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes over 50 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working to investigate offenders who use the internet to sexually exploit children.

The tip made by Google led to a number of search warrants being issued, and the IP addresses identified were determined to be owned by Kuchinka and his employer. A search of Kuchinka’s home resulted in the seizure of multiple internet-capable devices and digital evidence of prepubescent girls.

“I hope the message is clear today: the internet is not anonymous, and my law enforcement partners and I will not let producers and consumers of (child sexually abusive material) prey upon our community without consequences. I am committed to making Menominee County safe (and) will not allow childhood innocence to be scarified at the altar of adult lust,” said Rogg, who noted child pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry that profits from child abuse and has warped marriages and intimate relationships.

Parents are encouraged to speak to their children and family members about safe use of the internet. A comprehensive list of resources is available on the Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force website, www.michiganicac.com.