Mattawan Man Indicted for Child Exploitation and Other Related Charges

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—A federal grand jury indicted James Alfred Beckman, Jr., of Mattawan, Michigan, for a number of charges, including sexual exploitation of a child, attempted coercion and enticement of a child, and receipt of child pornography. The grand jury alleges in the indictment that Beckman committed these offenses between November 2011 and September 2012. If convicted of these charges, Beckman faces up to life imprisonment.

The charges are the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Michigan State Police (MSP), and 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, 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 website: www.justice.gov/psc. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

The charges in the indictment are only allegations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, and the government has the burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.