Houghton Lake man pleads guilty to child sex crime charges

A Roscommon County man pleaded guilty to child sex crime charges in Roscommon County, Michigan, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday. 

Michael Clune, 50, of Houghton Lake, pleaded guilty to the following: 

• One count of Child Sexually Abusive Activity, a felony punishable by 25 years in prison.

• One count of Using a Computer to Communicate with another for the purpose of Child Sexually Abusive Activity, a felony punishable by 20 years in prison.

“Individuals who prey upon children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Nessel. “I appreciate the efforts of the county prosecutors, police departments, Michigan State Police and the prosecutors in my office for their work to see this man brought to justice for multiple heinous crimes.”  

Clune admitted on the record to using the internet to communicate with multiple boys under the age of 15 and coercing them to send him child sexually abusive material.  The Michigan State Police executed a search warrant at Clune’s residence in Roscommon County and seized electronic devices which confirmed Clune’s crimes. The Attorney General’s Office announced several charges against Clune in October. 

Clune was previously arrested for similar activity in Clare County. After the Michigan State Police forensically analyzed his computer devices, they became aware of other victims.  

Additional charges against Clune remain in Clare County for third-degree criminal sexual conduct, sodomy, accosting a minor for immoral purpose and using a computer to commit a crime.  Clune pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct and Child Sexually Abusive Activity-Aggravated in Shiawassee County in March.  He was previously convicted of two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Wayne County in 2004. 

Clune, who will spend a minimum of 25 years in prison for his crimes, is scheduled to be sentenced in Roscommon County on May 18.