SCHWARTEN

ISHPEMING — A 32-year-old Ishpeming man was arraigned Wednesday, facing 51 felony counts concerning criminal sexual activity involving a minor.

The suspect, James N. Schwarten, was arrested on a 51-count arrest warrant on Monday and taken to the Marquette County Jail where he is being held on a $510,000 bond.

He faces 25 counts of child sexually abusive activity of an aggravated nature, each carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, and 26 felony counts of using a computer to commit a crime, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Schwarten was initially arrested on three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree after an investigation on Oct. 10.

He was found at his residence on 412 E. Division St. just before 2 a.m. with an underage female who did not live at the same address.

After posting a $3,000 bond, Schwarten was released on Oct. 23.

Schwarten’s cell phone, confiscated at the scene, was found to contain child sexually abusive material. Subsequently, a search warrant was sought for additional devices found at the scene.

Once granted, officers from the Ishpeming Police Department, assisted by investigators from the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit, executed a search on Oct. 25 when they found additional child sexually abusive material.

Due to the ongoing investigation, Ishpeming police were unable to provide comment.