Inmate pleads guilty to possessing child porn

Christopher Edwards with his attorney, Julie Springstead Waltz.

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — A 29-year-old Rothbury man currently lodged in the West Shoreline Correctional Facility in Muskegon pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child sexually-abusive material Monday, Nov. 23, in 27th Circuit Court

Christopher Ranzell Edwards, of 7128 S. 120th Ave., testified Monday that he was in possession of text messages last July that depicted graphic sexual acts of children less than 16 years of age.

In exchange for Edwards’ guilty plea, a second count of possession of child sexually-abusive material was dismissed. His sentence will require that he register as a sex offender.

Edwards is currently serving one year, eight months to 15 years in prison for a third-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) conviction in Muskegon County, according to the Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS). He was sentenced to prison last month for the April 7 offense, according to OTIS.

Judge Anthony A. Monton remanded Edwards to the Michigan Department of Corrections to await sentencing, which is set for Jan. 4 at 9 a.m.