The couple accused of raping a one-year-old girl on video in their Comstock Park apartment faced a judge in Kent County Tuesday.
Stevie Marie Foehl is charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, child sexually abusive activity and using a computer to commit a crime.
Michael Justin Emory faces three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of child sexually abusive activity and one count of using computers to commit a crime.
The judge said in court it’s estimated the rape took place on or around October, 25, 2012.
“We’re going to put a million dollar bond on each one of you,” said Judge Steven Servaas.
Neighbors said the couple had fled their Comstock Park apartment in the middle of the night after investigators began asking questions about Micheal Emory in a different case in Ottawa County.
Ottawa County detectives began looking into Michael Emory on that separate case in which he was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl he contacted online.
After those allegations surfaced, the couple left town.
The FBI and Kent County detectives worked together with local authorities in South Carolina to find Emory and Foehl, arrest them and bring them back to Michigan.
The couple told the judge they’d been living in South Carolina with family members.
“Who did you live there with?,” asked Judge Servaas.
“My sister in law,” said Stevie Marie Foehl.
It was when investigators seized their computer for the other case in Ottawa County that detectives found video of both Emory and Foehl raping the one-year-old in Kent County.
Court documents say, “first Stevie Foehl is holding the camera while Michael Emory is sexually assaulting the girl multiple times. Michael then holds the camera while Stevie sexually assaults the young girl.”
“The first count is oral vaginal penetration. The second digital vaginal penetration,” said Judge Servaas.
The judge set bond at a million dollars for each of the two and ordered no contact with the child should they be able to get out on bond.
“The authorities don’t know the name of that person at this particular point,” said Judge Servaas. “If you make the bond, you can’t have any contact with that infant.”
The first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
