9/11/13 - The local case against a Fowlerville man accused of sending sexually explicit photos to an 11-year-old girl has been dropped while prosecution continues in U.S. District Court. 30-year-old Matthew Lewis Colston had faced local charges of child abusive commercial activity, accosting a child for immoral purposes, and using a computer to commit a crime. Those charges were dropped on July 30th, and Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt says it is because he faces other, harsher charges in U.S. District Court. The local case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it can be brought back if prosecutors so choose. Colston faces charges in US District Court of manufacturing child pornography, enticement of minor, and transferring obscene material to a minor. Prosecutors allege he used a cell phone to persuade a child to engage in sexual activity, and that he also used the phone to send hundreds of sexually explicit photos to a child. The victimâs parents told State Police that Colston, who owns an IT company based in Williamston, sent their daughter over 500 explicit photographs, which they discovered by using a cell phone app installed on her phone. The parents reportedly became concerned after their daughter started receiving multiple late-night messages. (JK)
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