Reed City male struggling with boy or girl porn costs was utilized with legislation enforcement businesses

The 39-12 months-old’s charges involve:

• Two counts of aggravated baby sexually abusive action

• Two counts of making use of a pc to commit a criminal offense

• 1 rely of aggravated distributing or endorsing child sexually abusive exercise

• A single count of distributing or promoting kid sexually abusive activity

• 1 count of aggravated possession of youngster sexually abusive material

• One count of little one abusive business activity

• A person depend of maintaining a drug dwelling

• Two counts of possession of a non-narcotic

• A person count of supply/producing of a non-narcotic

• One particular depend of larceny in a making

Prior to his arrest in September 2020, Wernette was employed with the Cadillac Police Section, Osceola County Sheriff’s Workplace, and Lake County Sheriff’s Workplace involving 2016-18.

“He was a seasonal bicycle patrol officer for us in June 2016,” Cadillac Chief Deputy Eric Eller informed the Pioneer. “We would use new law enforcement officers for the summer season to do patrol in the downtown region.”

As a licensed officer, Wernette did have an approved firearm while on obligation, Eller claimed.

In September 2016, Wernette was launched from his placement, Eller stated, for the reason that the period arrived to a close.

Wernette was then employed with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office environment someday in 2018, Undersheriff Jed Avery told the Pioneer.

For the duration of his time with the sheriff’s office environment, Wernette was in a “secretary-like” situation, answered mobile phone calls and often wore civilian apparel, Avery reported.

“He was not in a uniform. He did have a badge, but he in no way passed his industry coaching,” Avery explained, adding Wernette was doing work with the sheriff’s business prior to Avery and Mark Neat taking their respective roles as undersheriff and sheriff.

Wernette voluntarily still left the office in 2018.

Pursuing his departure from Osceola County, Wernette was then employed by the Lake County Sheriff’s Place of work for a quick time period in 2018, Sheriff Wealthy Martin explained to the Pioneer.

“He was strictly on the ORV Patrol,” Martin said.

In his position, Wernette labored 1-2 times a 7 days in the Recreation Division and he labored on snowmobiles or other off-street motor vehicles in the course of his part-time shifts.

Martin reported Wernette wasn’t with the sheriff’s business office extremely extensive and labored a lot less than 20 total times. Wernette voluntarily remaining and was not terminated, Martin additional.

It is unclear if Wernette was utilized with any other law enforcement agencies soon after his departure from Lake County.

The Michigan Attorney General’s Office, which is prosecuting Wernette’s circumstance, declined to comment Monday or give aspects on the alleged incidents linked to Wernette’s arrest.

Wernette and his defense attorney, Robert S. Hackett, are scheduled to show up in courtroom for a settlement conference Feb. 12.

As of Monday, Wernette remains lodged in the Mecosta County Jail.