A 26-year-old Warren man was arraigned July 28 after investigators said they found "several hundred" videos and images of child sexual abuse on his electronic devices, the Warren Police Department reported.
Charged in first case from new Warren–MSP ICAC partnership
Tony Winston Jr. was named in a 14-count criminal complaint that includes charges of aggravated child sexually abusive activity and aggravated distributing or promoting child sexually abusive activity, among other felonies, according to a Warren police news release. The arrest is the first to arise from a taskforce formed in June between the Warren Police Department and the Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce.
Police say the investigation began in early July after both the Michigan State Police and Warren officers received information that an individual was downloading and distributing illicit material. Following execution of search warrants and the location of Winston Jr., investigators recovered electronic devices that they say contained "several hundred child sexually abusive videos and images." Authorities say Winston Jr. later confessed to possessing and disseminating the material.
Felony counts and bail conditions
The 14-count complaint includes the following counts and maximum penalties listed by the Warren news release:
- 1 count — Aggravated child sexually abusive activity (up to 25 years)
- 1 count — Aggravated distributing or promoting child sexually abusive activity (up to 15 years)
- 5 counts — Aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material (each count up to 10 years)
- 7 counts — Using a computer to commit a crime (penalties listed as up to 10-year and 20-year felonies)
Winston was arraigned July 28 and was given a $100,000 cash/surety bond. If he posts bond, court conditions will require him to wear a GPS tether, the release stated. Authorities also noted Winston Jr. has no prior criminal history.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Tony Winston Jr., 26, of Warren |
| Number of counts | 14 felony counts |
| Bond | $100,000 cash/surety; GPS tether if released |
| Taskforce | Warren Police Department and Michigan State Police ICAC Taskforce |
Law enforcement framing and local implications
Police described the case as the first successful arrest resulting from the cooperation between city and state investigators. In the department's public comments, Warren Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins characterized the partnership as a milestone in protecting vulnerable residents.
"This historic partnership between the Warren Police Department and the Michigan State Police ICAC Taskforce represents a powerful step forward in our shared mission to protect the most vulnerable members of our community," the release quoted Hawkins.
The collaboration reflects a broader law enforcement emphasis on identifying and disrupting the online networks used to disseminate sexual abuse material involving children. Local readers should expect continued investigative activity from the taskforce, which was formed in June and produced this arrest roughly a month later.
Prosecutors will determine how the multiple counts are pursued, and court proceedings will establish what evidence the state will present and whether additional charges or co-defendants will emerge. For families and community members in Warren, the case underscores both the presence of such criminal activity and the municipal effort to address it through partnership with state investigators.
Winston Jr.’s case remains in the early stages. No trial date has been announced; the charging documents and the police release provide the only public details so far. As the matter proceeds through the courts, additional records and hearings will clarify the scope of the alleged offenses and the path forward for both the defendant and the community agencies involved.
Residents with concerns or information related to online child exploitation are urged to contact local law enforcement; the Warren Police Department and the Michigan State Police ICAC Taskforce coordinate investigations and victim services for such matters.
