Port Huron man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

A Port Huron man pleaded guilty Monday to multiple child pornography charges more than a year and a half after he was arrested in a Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit sting.

Clayton Ellis pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of child sexually abusive material. Counts of distributing or promoting child sexually abusive material and using computers to commit a crime will be dismissed at sentencing. 

St. Clair County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brianna Monzo said the count of distributing or promoting sexually abusive material was dismissed because it happened while he was a juvenile, and would need to be pursued in juvenile court if the court chose to do so. 

The count of using computers to commit a crime will be dismissed as part of his plea deal. 

Monzo said Ellis used a cell phone to store child sexually abusive material. 

He faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison. 

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Oct. 4 in front of St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Lane. 

Ellis was arrested Dec. 17, 2019, following a Michigan State Police investigation in which digital evidence was seized from his home, police have said. 

A call to Ellis' attorney was not immediately returned Monday. 

There are many resources available to parents to assist in keeping children safe online. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides a comprehensive list of resources on their website at missingkids.org. The MSP ICAC Task Force also provides resources at michiganicac.com.

If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, report it to the CyberTipLine at missingkids.org/cybertipline.

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com.