Executive Summary
- Jeremy Clark, 35, faces felony charges after a two-week undercover investigation.
- Authorities allege Clark solicited an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.
- The operation involved multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and Michigan State Police.
- Charges include accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime.
A 35-year-old Michigan man has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies following a coordinated undercover operation targeting child exploitation, authorities announced. Jeremy Clark of Battle Creek was taken into custody after a two-week investigation led by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office.
According to law enforcement officials, the operation revealed that Clark allegedly attempted to solicit sexual acts from an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. Investigators stated that Clark made repeated requests to purchase underwear and view intimate photographs during his communications with the undercover operative.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Clark faces charges of accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer or the internet to communicate with another person to commit a crime. Both offenses are classified as felonies under Michigan state law.
The arrest was the result of a joint effort involving numerous law enforcement entities, including the Albion Department of Public Safety, Michigan State Police Southwest Enforcement Team, Battle Creek Police Department, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Police, and Homeland Security Investigations. Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley issued a statement regarding the operation, warning potential offenders that law enforcement is actively monitoring for such criminal behavior.
Investigative Outlook
The involvement of federal agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations alongside local and tribal police underscores the resource-intensive nature of modern child exploitation task forces. These multi-agency collaborations are increasingly utilized to bridge jurisdictional gaps inherent in digital crime investigations. As the investigation remains active, authorities continue to gather evidence and have urged public vigilance regarding online safety. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
