Michigan Man Charged In Child Porn Case Thanks To Vigilante
Many of us are aware of Chris Hanson and his work on Dateline's TV program "To Catch A Predator". If you aren't this is where Chris Hanson and a group of law enforcement officials catch predators in the act of talking inappropriately with underage children and then get them to show up to what they believe is the minor's home while they are alone.
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As disturbing as this is, they don't them get far as the child answers the door and then excuses themselves. Out comes Chris Hanson who then interrogates the individual before telling them they are going to be arrested for their actions. This show was so popular that there have been several common citizens who have tried to follow suit.
One of those vigilantes was led to Michigan when Douglas G Collins from Saginaw Township interacted with their profile. The vigilante had a YouTube page where he would record these meet ups as he confronts these individuals, this time he lured Collins to the Fashion Square Mall Food Court.
Collins showed up with Buffalo Wild Wings in anticipation of meeting two girls aged 12 and 13 respectively, instead he was met by the vigilante who questioned him about his intentions. Collins said the following when asked if he would have done anything sexual if the girls had been there:
There might have been a chance but honestly, in my heart, I don’t think I would have done it, honestly,
Arrests and Charges
This would lead to a police investigation opening up into Collins and the Saginaw area police uncovered child pornography in Collins' possession. They arrested him before letting him out on bond and expecting to sentence him in January. That's when he disappeared for almost a year.
They were tipped off that he was in the Grand Rapids area and picked him up from a motel in Muskegon County. He was brought back to Saginaw County to face a judge where he would be given six concurrent prison sentences—two terms of six to 40 years, two terms of two to eight years, and single stints of 30 months to 14 years and four to 14 years.
The sentences come from three counts of using a computer to commit a crime and single counts of accosting a child for immoral purposes, child sexually abusive activity, and possession of child sexually abusive material. The Judge did grant the 64-year-old Collins with 69 days served in jail.