Thomas Arlan Evans, Child Pornography Possession, MI 2023

Thomas Arlan Evans, 55, of Mancelona, Michigan, was sentenced today to 210 months — 17 and a half years — in federal prison for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles announced. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker, includes a mandatory seven-year term of supervised release and requires Evans to register as a sexual offender for life.

Evans pleaded guilty on July 15, 2016, after investigators uncovered a digital archive of depravity during a routine domestic-abuse probe in August 2015. A search warrant executed at his home led to the seizure of multiple electronic devices containing more than 19,000 images and dozens of videos depicting child sexual abuse — including toddlers and infants subjected to sadistic assaults. The material, federal prosecutors said, represented some of the most disturbing content they’ve encountered.

The investigation didn’t stop at digital evidence. Authorities discovered that Evans had recent access to a minor child, triggering an urgent safety review. Soon, two additional victims stepped forward, each alleging they had been sexually abused by Evans when they were children. Their testimonies painted a pattern of predation that extended beyond the digital realm into real-world exploitation.

This case was prosecuted under Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative targeting online child exploitation. The program unites federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies — including the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force — to dismantle networks of abuse and hold predators accountable. In Evans’ case, the collaboration between federal prosecutors and county investigators proved critical in exposing the full scope of his crimes.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Antrim County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, combing through digital footprints and conducting victim interviews that built an airtight case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Lewis handled the prosecution, emphasizing the vulnerability of the victims and the calculated nature of Evans’ actions during sentencing arguments.

Project Safe Childhood continues to urge the public to report suspected child exploitation. Anyone with information is advised to contact local law enforcement immediately. For more information on the initiative, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.