GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (March 12, 2014) — A 39-year-old Mattawan man was convicted of 15 federal counts related to attempting to make and distribute child pornography, The Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
James Alfred Beckman Jr. was found guilty on ten counts of attempting to sexually exploit a child, one count of attempting to coerce and entice a child to commit a sex act, two counts of distributing child pornography and two counts of receiving child pornography.
He was acquitted on one charge of attempted sexual exploitation.
Beckman sexually abused and exploited two young children in 2012. According to a release, he streamed and attempted to stream live video of this abuse to others. The crimes came to light when one of the victims came forward to another adult.
The investigation by Michigan State Police and the FBI revealed a network of people trafficking in child porn, and two of Beckman’s accomplices testified against him in the trial.
Beckman faces up to life in prison, and will be required to serve a term of supervised release and register as a sex offender if he gets out.
