The Ingham County prosecutor has charged an MSU professor with “six counts of child pornography-related allegations.”
Iskandar Arifin, 49, of Meridian Township, was arraigned on six felonies in the 55th District Court on Friday and was released on a $75,000 personal recognizance bond.
The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office announced in a news release that it has formally charged Iskandar Arifin, 49, from Meridian Township, with three counts of possessing “child sexually abusive material” and three charges related to using a computer to commit a crime.
“The investigation and prosecution of child pornography is a critical function of law enforcement, protecting children and communities,” said Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane. “When a suspect is also an educator, our concern is heightened. I commend the Michigan State Police and the officers of the Computer Crimes Unit for their outstanding work on this investigation.”
The case was triggered on May 28, 2022.
“The Michigan State Police conducted an extensive and thorough investigation to include significant data review, evidence collection, and search warrants,” Dewane said in an email.
An arrest warrant was authorized for Arifin’s detention on the charges on Jan. 24, 2024. Those charges were not entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network and other records until Feb. 14, 2024. Arifin arranged for his arraignment on Feb. 28 — and set for March 1. He appeared by video before a magistrate for his arraignment.
The warrants for his arrest have been removed from law enforcement systems since his arraignment. While Arifin is an MSU professor, the alleged crimes occurred in Meridian Township, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Arifin is scheduled to appear in the 55th District Court, located in Mason, on Mar. 12 for a pre-conference probable cause hearing.
The news outlet has reached out to the university for comment and to find out if any action has been taken against Arifin. The story will be updated once this information is confirmed.
Article generated from corporate media reports.
