An orthodontist in Michigan is facing eight child porn charges after being turned in by a forensic investigator he hired to prove his innocence.
Investigators initially received a tip that Dr. Thomas Patrick Shannon was using social media to solicit sexually explicit photos from a 17-year-old in North Carolina, Fox 17 reported. (RELATED: Reality TV Star Handed A 12-Year Prison Sentence On Child Porn Charges)
Orthodontist hires forensic investigator. Gets his money’s worth https://t.co/kGQvz0lSiR
— Fark (@fark) January 8, 2023
“If it happened, obviously it’s all there and I have to ‘fess up to it. I didn’t know anything more about that, but some girls are on there soliciting,” Shannon told police when asked about his online communications, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Shannon then hired a forensic investigator to search his iPhone and iCloud account to prove that he was not in possession of child pornography, Fox 17 reported. The investigator conducted the search and allegedly found “a large amount of child porn,” including photos of minors under the age of 10 and sexual photos of prepubescents and adolescents.
Shannon is facing eight felony charges, including distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography and using a computer to commit a crime, according to the outlet.