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Man facing 20 years for singing song
Rex_Capone420
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RAVENNA, Mich. (WOOD) - A singer who recorded a video inside a Ravenna school, then edited an explicit version for YouTube, was arrested Tuesday.
In January, singer Evan Emory performed at the Beechnau School under the pretense he was working on a personal project. A teacher he knew at the school agreed to let him come in and videotape.
Emory and a friend taped his performance with students in the classroom. Then, later, without anyone else in the room, he was videotaped performing an explicit song, then edited it to make it appear he sang to the elementary students. It was posted on YouTube three days ago.
The 21-year-old faces one felony count of manufacturing child sexually abusive material, and faces up to 20 years in prison, if convicted. Prosecutors would have to prove children were engaged, or appeared to be engaged, for the conviction.
In the beginning of the YouTube video, Emory posts two disclaimers that no students were exposed to his explicit version. The video was posted Feb. 12. Emory told 24 Hour News 8 it was supposed to be funny, and never meant to hurt anyone.
"More than anything, I just wanted to make people laugh," he said.
Ravenna Superintendent John VanLoon wanted criminal charges filed against Emory.
"We were duped. We were fooled. We were lied to," VanLoon told 24 Hour News 8. "Upset is a mild word. It outraged me. I was instantly outraged."
But Emory said the "adult video ... was intended for comedy and for adults. I wish there could have been some other way to do it, but I still can't think of another way I could have made it as good as it is."
And he admits he deceived the school, deliberately.
"If I would have told them, they wouldn't have let me do it," Emory said.
Several parents whose children were seen in the video are angry, as well.
"He humiliated my child," Kristy Korson said. "He humiliated all the parents that were involved in it. Something definitely needs to be done."
In an interview taped before his arrest, he offered an apology.
"I owe the school a huge apology for being deceptive and taking advantage of the fact that they trusted me," Emory said.
But when asked if he had any regrets, his answer seemed to teeter.
"I guess we'll see how many views it gets on the Internet and how much PR it gets," Emory said.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Emory was arrested and his computer confiscated. The case is now with Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague, who believes the charge will succeed.
Emory is being held at the Muskegon County jail and is set for arraignment Wednesday morning. The video has been taken down from YouTube.
this is about 20 minutes from where i live
In January, singer Evan Emory performed at the Beechnau School under the pretense he was working on a personal project. A teacher he knew at the school agreed to let him come in and videotape.
Emory and a friend taped his performance with students in the classroom. Then, later, without anyone else in the room, he was videotaped performing an explicit song, then edited it to make it appear he sang to the elementary students. It was posted on YouTube three days ago.
The 21-year-old faces one felony count of manufacturing child sexually abusive material, and faces up to 20 years in prison, if convicted. Prosecutors would have to prove children were engaged, or appeared to be engaged, for the conviction.
In the beginning of the YouTube video, Emory posts two disclaimers that no students were exposed to his explicit version. The video was posted Feb. 12. Emory told 24 Hour News 8 it was supposed to be funny, and never meant to hurt anyone.
"More than anything, I just wanted to make people laugh," he said.
Ravenna Superintendent John VanLoon wanted criminal charges filed against Emory.
"We were duped. We were fooled. We were lied to," VanLoon told 24 Hour News 8. "Upset is a mild word. It outraged me. I was instantly outraged."
But Emory said the "adult video ... was intended for comedy and for adults. I wish there could have been some other way to do it, but I still can't think of another way I could have made it as good as it is."
And he admits he deceived the school, deliberately.
"If I would have told them, they wouldn't have let me do it," Emory said.
Several parents whose children were seen in the video are angry, as well.
"He humiliated my child," Kristy Korson said. "He humiliated all the parents that were involved in it. Something definitely needs to be done."
In an interview taped before his arrest, he offered an apology.
"I owe the school a huge apology for being deceptive and taking advantage of the fact that they trusted me," Emory said.
But when asked if he had any regrets, his answer seemed to teeter.
"I guess we'll see how many views it gets on the Internet and how much PR it gets," Emory said.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Emory was arrested and his computer confiscated. The case is now with Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague, who believes the charge will succeed.
Emory is being held at the Muskegon County jail and is set for arraignment Wednesday morning. The video has been taken down from YouTube.
this is about 20 minutes from where i live
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