Croswell man faces federal charges

SANILAC COUNTY — A Croswell man is facing federal charges following an investigation into an alleged case of him receiving child sexually abusive material. 

According to multiple media outlets, Trevor Prather, 45, of Croswell, is being charged in a criminal complaint filed Sept. 30 with receipt of child pornography, according to a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Inspector General.

Authorities were alerted to the alleged incident by an Ohio woman who said she discovered images on her 11-year-old daughter’s cellphone which led investigators from Ohio to Prather’s home in Sanilac County.

According to a complaint filed with police in Marysville, Ohio, the allegations stem from the mother of the 11-year-old who contacted police in early August. Media reports say the mother reported finding sexually explicit videos and images on her daughter’s cellphone. Authorities say the woman also learned the child had been communicating with several unknown people on social media, including a user identified as “travis269657.” The mother took screenshots of the conversations and turned the phone and screenshots over to the police.

Through their follow-up investigation, police opened Snapchat and found recent chats between the child and a user known as “Travis.” 

Later, a two-minute video stored on the girl’s phone in two places; in Snapchat under “Memories,” and in the phone’s regular camera roll were found. Federal investigators say the video appeared to have been recorded in the girl’s bedroom, based in part on specific evidence. Investigators say a video seemingly depicted [the child] engaging in sexually explicit conduct, “which constitutes child pornography,” according to the investigation.

Officials say most of a conversation between the girl and Prather included graphic and sexually explicit messages. Multiple media outlets say a detective from Ohio later contacted Snapchat to get account information, tracing the IP address to an internet provider who then handed over subscriber information identifying Prather in Croswell.

Federal investigators followed up with that information by searching Prather’s home last week where during an interview, reports say he admitted the phone number linked to the Snapchat account was his personal phone. 

Prather also allegedly told investigators another number, which had been connected to the home’s internet router, was his work phone. Federal officials said a search of the router confirmed the connection.

Prather was arrested and appeared in federal court in Detroit on Sept. 30. A detention hearing was set for Oct. 2.