Obscene caller agrees to plea deal

WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) - A Wyoming man accused of making 60 threatening phone calls has made a plea agreement with the federal government.

In some calls, Richard Lee Minch told women who answered the phone he had a gun pointed at them from outside and would shoot if they didn't do exactly as told.

Originally, he was charged with 18 separate counts of extortion, threat, possession of child pornography, sexual exploitation of a child and receipt of images engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Minch has agreed to plead guilty to: One extortion charge and one charge of sexually exploiting a minor. The government will drop the other 16 when he is sentenced.

He faces 20 years on the extortion charge and 30 years for the exploitation charge. He faces up to $500,000 in fines.

As another part of his plea agreement, Minch agreed to forfeit his computer, cameras and telephone.

He has to pay full restitution, "including the costs of counseling and medical care to all of the victims of his extortion, threats and exploitation of children," according to court documents.

Minch also must register as a sex offender. He was a convicted sex offender before he was charged. Minch's criminal history dates back to the early 1980s.

He was arrested for exposing himself to children, attempting to lure a woman into the woods where he was found with a wire cord, handcuffs and various sex toys, and for another case of threatening phone calls.

Detectives tracked Minch through a cell phone he purchased at a local Target.

The plea agreement is contingent on the court's approval.

No sentencing date has been set.