A Mecosta County man with a history of collecting child pornography is heading back to prison for amassing approximately 300 images and videos of prepubescent minors.
Michael James Carpenter, 34, was sentenced this week to 11 years in federal prison.
U.S. District Court Judge Gordon J. Quist also placed him on supervised release for life and ordered Carpenter to pay a $5,100 assessment.
Carpenter pleaded guilty in September to possession of child pornography. In exchange for his plea, a second child pornography charge was dismissed. Possession of child pornography with a prior conviction is punishable by between 10 and 20 years in prison.
Investigators say he used the Internet to collect child pornography in the fall of 2016. One of the files was titled ‘2yo crying girl raped by neighbor,’ federal court records show.
Carpenter had been living in Big Rapids and was listed on the state’s sex offender registry. He has prior convictions for possession of child sexually abusive material in Grand Traverse and Mecosta counties. He spent time in prison for four convictions in Grand Traverse County in 2007.
Carpenter also has assault convictions in Livingston and Lenawee counties.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the WZZM 13 app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.