Flint Township View

Three arrested on child porn, sex abuse charges




MT. MORRIS — Three people have been arrested in Genesee County for allegedly facilitating the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Around the July 4th holiday, the Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) investigated a case involving a trade of child pornography for sex in Mt. Morris. According to Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, Jerome Chene of Washington Township in Macomb County allegedly took graphic photos of his seven-year-old daughter and sent them to Daniel Flowers of Mt. Morris in order to have sex with Flowers’ girlfriend, Michelle Irwin (also a Mt. Morris resident).

Chene, 28, was arrested on July 5 at Flowers’ apartment, where he allegedly came to have sex with Irwin and finalize the exploitation of his daughter. GHOST operatives also obtained a search warrant and arrested Flowers, 36, and Irwin, 31.

Flowers and Irwin are being held on $100,000 cash bonds at the Genesee County Jail and are each facing five felonies, including child sexually abusive activity with intent to promote and distribute child pornography, using a computer to commit a crime and accosting a child for immoral purposes.

Chene, who is also being held at the county jail on a $50,000 cash bond, has been charged with six felonies, including child sexually abusive activity, using a computer to commit a crime, possession of child sexually abusive material and accosting a child for immoral purposes.

Flowers and Irwin are also expected to face charges for allegedly trafficking a 21-year-old special needs woman who lived with them at the apartment. Swanson said that Flowers and Irwin met the victim on social media and soon arranged for people to have sex with her.

GHOST caught wind of the situation when the victim went to Ascension Genesys Hospital for a medical treatment on July 2. Swanson said that the woman divulged to a nurse that she had been trafficked, and the nurse then contacted GHOST.

Swanson said that the investigation into the alleged sex trafficking of the 21-year-old helped to lead police to the child exploitation case involving Chene, Flowers and Irwin.