Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

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September 24, 2009

Mikko allegedly had 'collage' of teen girls

BY ART BUKOWSKI

TRAVERSE CITY -- A briefcase belonging to former 13th Circuit Court family division referee Dennis P. Mikko allegedly contained a photo "collage" of teen girls who once were on probation with the court, police reports state.

Authorities this week charged Mikko with five felony counts of possession of child sexually abusive materials after police allegedly found unrelated nude photos of underage girls along with condoms and pornographic materials in the same briefcase, kept under his desk at the Robert P. Griffin Hall of Justice.

Mikko, 53, was arraigned by video Wednesday before 86th District Judge Michael Haley and is free on a personal recognizance bond.

A detective who searched Mikko's office Aug. 14 allegedly found the photo collage taped inside a sex-themed book in the briefcase, police reports show. The collage contained clothed pictures of 10 girls who once were on probation in the county.

The photos used in the collage appeared to be identical to those found in the girls' court case folders, according to the report. Circuit Chief Judge Philip E. Rogers said Mikko had "no excuse whatsoever" to allegedly use court photos in that manner.

"It doesn't matter whether or not that's illegal," Rodgers said. "If in fact it's true, that behavior is grossly inappropriate."

The briefcase also allegedly contained pornographic DVDs, an envelope with nine condoms and other sexually themed material.

Beginning in 1997 and extending through last month, Mikko presided over child abuse and neglect cases, juvenile-offender matters and other child-related issues in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Antrim counties. Rodgers wants to know if he ever had inappropriate contact with children he met in court.

"The next step now is, was this ever acted on?" Rodgers said. "That's something (county Prosecutor Al Schneider) assured me he was investigating."

Schneider said he wouldn't comment on details contained in police reports.

"Regarding any underage individual identified thus far, the sheriff's department has discovered no inappropriate direct contact," he said.

Sheriff Tom Bensley said his office continues to investigate the photos.

Authorities obtained a warrant to search Mikko's home and office after receiving a tip that Mikko allegedly engaged in conversations about sex acts with a person who identified themselves as a 14-year-old male on the Internet social networking site MySpace.

Mikko didn't return a call for comment. His attorney, Craig Elhart of Traverse City, couldn't be reached for comment.

Mikko was placed on paid leave Aug. 14 when his superiors discovered he was a subject of an ongoing criminal investigation, and he resigned Aug. 21.

Related Stories:
- Ex-referee is charged for nude photos
- Mikko suspected of 'child exploitation'
- Circuit court referee resigns
- Referee may resign amid investigation

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