A Marquette County man who was acquitted of multiple child sex charges in 2024 and had a second set of similar charges dismissed earlier this year is back behind bars, now accused of possessing and distributing child sexually abusive material.
According to the Forsyth Township Police Department, 44-year-old Patrick Darren Moore of Gwinn was arrested Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Escanaba after investigators executed a search warrant that uncovered digital evidence on his devices. Police say the new case was built following an alert about new acquisitions.
The Marquette County Prosecutor’s Office has authorized a total of 24 new felony counts, including:
- 11 counts of Using a Computer to Commit a Crime
- 7 counts of Aggravated Child Sexually Abusive Material
- 4 counts of Possession of Child Sexually Abusive Material
- 1 count of Criminal Sexual Conduct – Third Offense
- 1 count of Evidence Tampering
The new charges carry significant penalties under Michigan law.
- Aggravated Child Sexually Abusive Material and CSC–Third Offense are punishable by up to 20 years in prison each.
- Using a Computer to Commit a Crime can carry up to 10 years per count.
- Evidence Tampering carries a potential four-year felony sentence.
Authorities say the arrest was made without incident in Escanaba with assistance from the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit (Marquette 8th District), Escanaba Public Safety, and the Northern Lights Child Advocacy Center.
Moore’s earlier cases were significant in scope. In September 2024, a Marquette County jury found him not guilty on six counts of First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct involving a victim under 13. A second case filed in January 2024, which alleged two additional counts of First-Degree CSC, was dismissed in March 2025 before trial.
Investigators say this latest case developed after new digital evidence surfaced earlier this year, prompting the search warrant that led to Moore’s arrest. Authorities did not indicate any connection between the earlier cases and the new allegations but confirmed this is a separate and ongoing investigation.
If convicted on all charges, Moore could face decades in prison.
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