81-year-old historical society president hid child porn in agenda notes, MI cops say

The 81-year-old president of a Michigan historical society was arrested Tuesday, April 15, following a lengthy investigation that began when child porn was found within his meeting notes, according to authorities and news reports.

James Lawrence Meloche, president of the Village of Clarkston Historic District Commission, faces child-porn related charges more than a year-and-a-half after the initial discovery, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office told WDIV.

A day after an October 2023 meeting with the group, a stack of papers belonging to Meloche was found, according to WEYI. Within the stack were personal emails that included his name, copies of the meeting’s agenda, as well as pornographic images that included children, the sheriff’s office told the station.

The person who made the discovery turned over the documents to local authorities, who launched an investigation and executed a search warrant at the 81-year-old’s home, according to The Detroit News.

Among the findings were “multiple sheets of homemade pornography,” WWJ reported. Authorities also seized his “phone, computers, CDs and a camera.”

Making the investigation lengthy was the amount of pornography Meloche is accused of possessing. Authorities said it took months to sift through the material, which included “1,000 images of minor children superimposed on a pornographic image,” WDIV reported, citing local authorities.

At least three of the children are kids Meloche knows, WEYI reported. The other victims remain unidentified.

Meloche was charged with three counts of child sexually abusive activity, three counts of using a computer to commit a crime, and three counts of possession of child sexually abusive activity, WWJ reported.

Rob Hauxwell, the current chairman of the historical commission, told The Detroit News he was unaware of the allegations until Meloche’s arrest. He said he was “disgusted” by the “unconscionable” acts.

Clarkston is about a 40-mile drive northwest from Detroit.