A 54-year-old man from Michigan pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child

(CBS DETROIT) — A 54-year-old Grandville man faces 15 to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal charge of sexually exploiting a child.

On Friday, Thomas Hungerford signed a plea agreement that dismissed two counts of distributing child pornography.

According to U.S. Attorney Mark Totten, in August 2023, Hungerford recorded the girl engaging in overt sexual acts without her knowledge or consent. The Grandville man then saved the video to removable media.

Hungerford was charged on May 24 following the execution of a federal search warrant. He has been in custody since that day.

Totten says he will be sentenced “in the coming weeks.” Under a plea agreement, charges of distributing child pornography may be dismissed.

“I am grateful to the FBI for its swift and thorough work on this case and the work the Bureau does every day to protect children,” Totten said in the release.

The case is being investigated by the FBI.