March 8, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Prosecutor Tim Rutkowski, 989.269.9255
On Thursday, March 2, 2023, a 46-year-old man and a 57-year-old man both pled no contest to charges of:
- Child Sexually Abusive Material, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison;
- Computers-Using to Commit a Crime, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and,
- Children-Accosting for Immoral Purposes, a felony punishable by up to 4 years in prison.
Daniel Horetski of Port Austin, and Kevin Manor of Sebewaing were both arrested during a Human Trafficking Task Force sting initiated by the Huron County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Sanilac and Tuscola County Sheriff’s Offices, the Sanilac County Drug Task Force and the Bad Axe Police Department. Two Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) members of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance.
In both cases, on July 12, 2022, and in separate situations, the defendants were texting and/or on-line chatting with what they believed was a 15-year-old minor, trying to initiate having sex with that person. In actuality, they were texting with an undercover officer. When the defendants arrived at the location where they believed the minor was located, law enforcement officers promptly arrested them. In addition to the officers’ observations, the surveillance video, and the defendants’ admissions, the text messages sent between the defendants and the undercover officer provided important evidence of their intent to have sex with a 15-year-old minor.
The following day, Prosecutor Timothy Rutkowski charged both men with the same three felony offenses that they ultimately pled no contest. By pleading no contest, the defendants are no longer contesting the charges, and they will be sentenced for their crimes on May 8, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., before the Hon. Gerald M. Prill.
Prosecutor Rutkowski thanks Sheriff Hanson and the Huron County Sheriff’s Office for leading this operation as well as the Sanilac and Tuscola County Sheriff’s Offices, the Bad Axe Police Department, and the GHOST team members for their invaluable assistance in resolving this case.
