Asher John Carlisle

GOGEBIC COUNTY – A man from Bessemer is facing 16 felonies relating to child sex crimes.

In a Wednesday press release, Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs announced that Asher John Carlisle, 24, has been arraigned in Gogebic County on these following charges: four counts of accosting, enticing or soliciting children under the age of 16 for immoral purposes, nine counts of child sexually abusive activity and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

Law enforcement had received information from reliable sources that Carlisle was involved in soliciting minors for nude images over social media.

Carlisle’s probation agent seized three of Carlisle’s phones in April. Jacobs issued a separate search warrant to preserve and search his Snapchat account. The phones and Snapchat were then analyzed and investigated by the MSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Marquette last month.

Police found more than 4,000 nude images and chats with minors, on Carlisle’s devices which resulted in the 16 felony charges.

A probable cause conference has been scheduled for June 30 followed by a preliminary examination on July 7.

Other members of law enforcement that assisted in the investigation include the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.