Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox Arrests Two Internet Predators Including Flint-Area Teacher

    LANSING, Mich., April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox
 announced today the arrest of two Michigan men, including a Linden high school
 science teacher, for using the Internet to commit child sexual abuse.
     "It is imperative that we stop sexual predators before they harm a child,"
 Cox said.  "By turning the secrecy of the Internet against these dangerous
 criminals, my undercover investigators are making Michigan safer for our
 children."
     Attorney General investigators arrested Linden Community Schools science
 teacher and Westland resident Michael Lee Phillips, 28, in Southfield on March
 31.  Phillips was charged with one count of child sexually abusive activity
 and one count of using a computer to commit a crime, both 20-year felonies.
 Arraigned April 1 in 46 District Court, Phillips received a $25,000 cash or
 surety bond and his preliminary examination is scheduled for April 6 at 8:30
 a.m.
     Investigators also arrested James Barter Johnson, 53, of Midland on March
 31 in Lyon Township.  Johnson was charged with two counts of child sexually
 abusive activity and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime, both
 20-year felonies, and five counts of using a computer to disseminate sexually
 explicit material to children, a four-year felony.  Arraigned April 1 in 52-1
 District Court, Johnson received a $10,000/10 percent bond and his preliminary
 examination is scheduled for April 6 at 9:15 a.m.
     Since its restructuring, Cox's Child and Public Protection Unit has
 arrested 29 Internet sexual predators.  Attorney General Cox encourages
 parents to visit http://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 (734) 525-4151.
 
 

SOURCE  Michigan Attorney General