A young singer has been charged with a 20-year felony of making child abuse material and posting it on YouTube after an internet prank went terribly wrong.
Guitarist Evan Emory, 21, visited a classroom in Muskegon, Michigan and filmed himself singing in front of a class of first graders.
He then went back to an empty classroom and re-filmed himself singing a song with sexually explicit lyrics. Splicing the two videos together he made it look like the children were dancing to the sexual lyrics before posting it on YouTube in January.
He was initially invited to perform at the school by teachers after telling them the video was part of a personal project.
The video has subsequently been taken down.
But while the prank became an underground hit, police in Muskegon county took a different opinion.
They arrested Emory and hauled him before a court on Wednesday, charging him with making child sexually abusive material - a 20-year felony.
Although no children were actually present for the filming of the explicit version at Beechnau Elementary School, prosecutors say that it is still an offence.
Prosecutor Tony Tague said that while Michigan law ‘provides penalty’ for those who actually manufacture child sexual abusive material it also: ‘Has a provision for those who make it appear that the children were actually abused.
'I take this case very seriously,' he said.
'I think it's not only important for the children in Muskegon but through the state of Michigan.
'This is a law that is on the books and I think it's important that we send a message that children are off limits for this type of activity.'
