Child porn charges against Kent Co man

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - An Algoma Township man is in federal custody after allegedly admitting he produced and possessed child pornography.

Eric Straatsma, 34, was arrested March 2 after the FBI searched his residence and found more than 1000 images of child pornography, including some videos.

His home, with a sign out front that reads "Papa's Pond," is in a seemingly neighborless area in Kent County. His car remains parked in the driveway.

In the criminal complaint, the FBI said Straatsma admitted to both the agents and to the father of a 5-year-old girl that he made a digital movie with the naked child. Further, the complaint states, Straatsma admitted previously molesting a child between the ages of 3-9.

Other items found in the search included more than 100 pair of little girls underpants, plus 10 computer towers, five laptops, 13 hard drives, seven thumb drives, one digital camera memory card and three digital cameras, the FBI said.

Straatsma's Facebook page notes he was a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School.

In a brief conversation with 24 Hour News 8, his mother said, "We love our son and we're cooperating with the police."

Federal investigators have not revealed how they got onto this case. He was originally held in the Kent County Jail but is now in federal custody.

Straatsma was indicted on March 7 on federal charges of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

He pleaded not guilty at his March 8 arraignment in the U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.