A former Michigan teacher and principal will spend the rest of his life in prison for “the worst betrayal of innocence and trust imaginable.”

A 50-year-old former Michigan teacher and principal, was sentenced to serve 720 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for sexual exploitation of two minors. He was also sentenced by a Muskegon County Circuit Court judge to 20 to 95 years in a related sexual assault case.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2020_1020_Russell#:~:text=October 20, 2020-,Elementary School Educator Gets 60 Years For Child Exploitation,sexual exploitation of two minors.

The case clearly represents hard work and partnership by numerous agencies/offices.

 This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

The facts of these cases are appalling, including that this man, who was a teacher and principal in Michigan, left Michigan in 2018 after he was suspended when a teacher filed a complaint about his “interest” in two elementary students. He was allowed to resign and moved to Las Vegas where he was hired as a fourth grade teacher. How can this still happen?!

Thankfully his latest stint as a fourth grade teacher has been cut short and that he was prosecuted in both state and federal courts in western Michigan. There is no parole in the federal system. His 22-year reign of terror over kids is over.

Thanks to a reader for the information.