Judge Frees West Bloomfield Child Porn Suspect

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A West Bloomfield man awaiting trial on federal pornography charges alleging he took and later distributed nude photos of boys at a Jewish Community Center was released to the custody of his parents by a federal judge Tuesday.

In a written order, U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn said Matthew Kuppe, 21, is not dangerous and deserves the presumption of innocence, the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News and other media are reporting. He was released on $10,000 bond.

“The government has not established by clear and convincing evidence that he is a danger to the community, and therefore the defendant is not to be detained,” Cohn said from the bench, reading from his written order. “There is a presumption favoring pretrial release. Pretrial release is the norm, not the exception.”

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Kuppe had been held without bond since his arrest last August on allegations that he shared nude photos he had taken in a folder marked “Jewish boys” on Internet sharing website based in Russia. The photos included at least three 5-year-olds, including one whose name was allegedly included in the post, according to court records.

If convicted of production, distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, Kuppe could spend 20 years in prison.

In his ruling, Cohn said the charges are “extremely serious,” but noted the alleged crimes are neither violent nor drug-related, both of which are factors in deciding if someone is a danger to the community.

Kuppe’s defense team argued that the government was creating a “scare scenario” and said Kuppe’s and his parents’ “universe has been completely unended since his arrest.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Woodward argued against Kuppe’s release, and said parents of the alleged victims, who had hoped to testify Tuesday, opposed it.

Woodward cited a doctor who reportedly concluded after evaluating Kuppe that he is “at high risk of reoffending sexually” if he is released.

Cohn also cited the opinions of psychologists who he said evaluated Kuppe and reached “virtually identical conclusions; that ... it is highly unlikely that Matthew David Kuppe would pose a danger to any person or the community should he be released pending trial.”

Federal prosecutors said in earlier court filings that it was “extremely likely” Kuppe had sexual contact with the campers.

However last month, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office said local charges won’t be filed against Kuppe because they found no evidence of abuse in interviews with children who had attended the camp.

“The federal government doesn’t have any molestation charges or anything like that, so you have to look at that from a state level,” West Bloomfield Police chief Michael Patton said at the time. “We’ve looked at all the facts and evidence we had and didn’t see anything that would lead us to believe he committed any state level violations, so there will be no state law charges.”

As a condition of his release from federal custody, Kuppe must wear a GPS tether, agree not to view pornography and refrain from using computers or the Internet, must have no contact with the victims, may not possess a credit card and must stay within the eastern side of state.