In another disturbing demonstration of how the alleged professionals who preside over family court matters can abuse their positions – comes this story about a Michigan Family Court Referee, Dennis P. Mikko, charged with five felony counts of “child sexually abusive materials.”
Mikko has been charged with five felony counts of possession of child sexually abusive materials in connection with the police discovery. It is alleged Mikko was in possession of nude photos of underage girls along with condoms and pornographic materials in a briefcase kept under his desk at the Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice.
Mikko, 53, was arraigned before 86th District Judge Michael Haley and is free on a personal recognizance bond.
From the article:
A detective who searched Mikko’s office Aug. 14 allegedly found the photo collage taped inside a sex-themed book in the briefcase, police reports show. The collage contained clothed pictures of 10 girls who once were on probation in the county.
Reportedly, photos used in the discovered collage were identical to those found in the girls’ court case folders. Circuit Chief Judge Philip E. Rogers has said that Dennis Mikko should not have been using the photos for any such purpose.
“It doesn’t matter whether or not that’s illegal,” Rodgers said. “If in fact it’s true, that behavior is grossly inappropriate.”
In addition to the illegal materials, his briefcase also allegedly contained other sexually explicit materials.
Mikko presided over child abuse and neglect cases, juvenile-offender matters and other child-related issues in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Antrim counties between 1997 and his suspension last month.
Now, authorities will work to find out if Mikko ever acted on his apparent desires for children.
For the full article: Mikko allegedly had ‘collage’ of teen girls
