EMMETT TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – The substitute teacher from Calhoun County’s Emmett Township who is the latest to be linked to an online network of child sexual predators has now been formally charged with possession of child pornography and computer crimes.
56-year-old Stephen Bridges had no criminal record and was cleared by several background checks to teach. He worked for Edustaff, an agency that provides substitute teachers for schools all over the area.
Sgt. Jeff Case says they only stumbled across Bridges because of their investigation of Donald Johnston, who is charged with molesting a 5-year-old boy.
While authorities have said Johnston was part of a group of alleged child predators and sexual deviants, they don’t think he was part of the plot to kidnap, torture and kill a child that has resulted in conspiracy charges in Branch County against some members of the group.
Investigators seized three digital devices belonging to Bridges that they say contained child pornography, but say they found no evidence that any local children had been victimized.
Bond was set at $10,000.
(reporting by John McNeill)
