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Evan Emory Charged With Posting A YouTube Video Involving Ravenna 1st Graders
[February 17, 2011]

Evan Emory Charged With Posting A YouTube Video Involving Ravenna 1st Graders


Feb 16, 2011 (WXMI-TV - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- MUSKEGON COUNTY -- 21-year-old Evan Emory faces a 20-year felony after altering a performance inside a Beechnau Elementary classroom to include graphic material.



Emory was being held in the Muskegon County Jail, but was allowed to be let out with his parents signature Wednesday afternoon. He was formally charged with Manufacturing Child Sexual Abusive Material, according to Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague.

"In my mind, this decision by this young man stepped way over the line and it was not a prank it was a crime," said Tague.


"We will be seeking jail time,"he added.

The district courtroom was packed Wednesday with angry parents from Ravenna who have children who were featured in the video.

"It is disgusting, anyone with a brain knows that this is wrong and not funny," said parent Chuck Willick.

His six-year-old daughter was shown on youtube and he felt it was important to be in court when Emory's charges were read.

Emory's parents and friends were also in the courtroom and visibly upset.

"He is a good kid and was trying to do something creative, but he didn't think it through," said defense attorney Terry Nolan.

"It was an error in judgement, yes, but 20 years?, come on, "said friend Cassie Robinson.

Robinson stood outside the courtroom with four other protestors who had held up signs in support of Evan saying comedy is not a crime.

The debate stems from a video recently posted and yanked from youtube.

On January 12, Emory secured permission from a teacher and former acquaintance to perform at the school for what he described as part of his portfolio to gain admittance into a "Big 10 School of Education".

During the videotaped performance, Emory sang Adam Sandler's "Lunch Lady Land" to the class and left after the brief visit.

Monday, a video surfaced on YouTube showing Emory singing a different song to the class which included sexually suggestive material. Ravenna Public Schools Superintendent John VanLoon said the song was altered through editing and said at no time were the students actually subject to hearing the graphic content.

In a letter to parents, VanLoon said he was "outraged" and said the district planned to seek a "no-trespass" order against Emory, who was a recent graduate.

"It's very disturbing," Muskegon County Sheriff Dean Roesler told FOX 17. "During [a police interview] he made some statements that he was very apologetic, didn't believe it was harmful in any way." Emory has no prior record, but prosecutors are taking the case very seriously and could be looking at additional charges.

He is expected back in court on February 24th and has a preliminary exam on March 2nd.

A judge ordered Emory to not have any contact with minors unless he's at his restaurant job and no open mic performances.

Emory recently played the video at Club Envy in Muskegon.

To see more of WXMI-TV, go to http://www.fox17online.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, Mich. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com.

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