Traverse City — A Traverse City high school janitor told a judge he solicited naked images of a male student over the Internet, then stalked the teen and his girlfriend.
Walter Edward "Wally" Lucas, 40, pleaded guilty Friday in 13th Circuit Court to two counts of possessing child sexually abusive material and a count of stalking a minor — both felonies. Judge Thomas G. Power plans to dismiss five counts of child sexually abusive activity and a count of using computers to commit a crime as part of a plea agreement.
Lucas' sentencing is slated for June 11 in 13th Circuit Court, and Power denied a bond request from his attorney, Mike Stepka.
Lucas worked as a janitor for the Traverse City Area Public Schools since 1997, but for the past few years primarily worked at Central High School. The school district placed him on unpaid suspension in February before criminal charges were filed, and fired him a month later, said Christine Davis, TCAPS human resources director.
The criminal charges stem from Lucas' Internet conversations with a former Central High School student. Lucas created a phony Internet account, and posed as a female teenager to attract the male teen's attention.
"I pretended to be a girl and had (the youth) send me nude photos of himself," Lucas said Friday.
Investigators searched Lucas' computer and said they found two nude videos of the youth, and several photos of him posing nude. Lucas told Power that he had about 25 nude pictures of the youth on his computer.
The male teen cut conversation ties with Lucas' online persona once he began dating a fellow classmate. His girlfriend's family then received dozens of harassing phone calls, during which the caller would swear and hang up, or demand the girl stay away from the male teen.
"I called there and disguised my voice and my number," Lucas said. "I just said to stay away from (the youth). I was jealous, I guess."
Lucas said he called her about 200 times and drove past her house.
The couple saw Lucas more often as their relationship ensued, but neither knew the janitor was behind the phony Internet account, police reports show. He allegedly followed the male teen into a local retailer's bathroom in February.
Lucas called or sent text messages to the male teen as many as 50 times a day, and continued to threaten his girlfriend if he didn't break up with her. The girl's mother eventually contacted authorities, which led to Lucas' arrest.
Region
Related Photos
-
Lucas
Janitor pleads guilty to felonies
Lucas solicited naked images, stalked teens
-
-
Powerball ticket buyers hopeful as jackpot swells
Garrick Opie hasn’t purchased a Powerball ticket in more than a decade. But a jackpot that swelled to $600 million — the world’s second largest lottery prize — by Friday afternoon convinced Opie to throw in $20 toward the $2 tickets at the 7-Eleven store on 14th Street.
Continued ... -
Co-worker of fired tribal employees: ‘They should have known better’
A co-worker of the six tribal employees who shot a .22 rifle off their office building deck alleged they endangered a nearby residence, potentially polluted Lake Michigan with lead bullets, and violated human resources policy.
Continued ... -
Jury: Local attorney committed fraud
A jury ruled a local attorney committed fraud and malpractice in a case of a business deal gone bad.
Continued ... -
Man facing sex charges
A Traverse City man who faces child abuse and criminal sexual conduct charges also is accused of attempting to assault authorities who tried to arrest him.
Continued ... -
Model airplanes take off today in Thompsonville
If you’re in Thompsonville today, look up. Model airplane enthusiasts say you’ll be in for a treat.
Continued ... -
Trial scheduled for sex crime suspect
A Kalkaska man who faces 16 counts of criminal sexual conduct is scheduled to appear in court.
Continued ... -
Ex-local resident on 'Wheel of Fortune'
A former Frankfort resident will appear on the national game show “Wheel of Fortune.”
Continued ... - Friday, May 17, 2013
-
Parking garage rates to rise
The Downtown Development Authority authorized an increase in transient parking rates at the city’s two municipal parking decks.
Continued ... -
Ex-Traverse City Manager Lewis to head St. Joseph
The city of St. Joseph picked Traverse City's former Manager Richard Lewis as their next city manager.
Continued ... -
Heroin overdose kills man
Benzie County's struggle with fatal heroin overdoses continues. Authorities confirmed Justin Smith, 23, of Benzonia, was found dead Wednesday night of a heroin overdose. Law enforcement officials arrested a suspect in Smith's death, the fourth heroin-related fatality in the county since 2011.
Continued ... -
No food truck buffet rolled out on first day
Diners who hankered for food truck fare on the first day the mobile restaurants were allowed downtown came away hungry.
Continued ... -
Firings anger Grand Traverse Band members
Tribal officials fired six of their Natural Resources Department employees for shooting a rifle off their office’s deck, a move that’s angered some Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa members who said the punishment is too severe.
Continued ... -
Low-flying helicopters are coming
Don’t worry: the low-flying helicopters buzzing through northern Michigan are not from the United Nations or some secret government agency.
Continued ... -
Nursing home promises to repay Benzie $484K
The Maples nursing home officials told Benzie County leaders they will repay $484,000 the county loaned the facility by March 2014.
Continued ... -
Traverse City Light & Power joins SUN project
Traverse City Light & Power board members approved the final step in implementing a community solar project in partnership with Cherryland Electric Cooperative.
Continued ... - Thursday, May 16, 2013
-
Shananaquet to prison for 25-50 years
Tyler Shananaquet expressed remorse for hitting a woman who sought a ride home after a Williamsburg bonfire party, but he maintained he didn't rape her.
Continued ... -
Traverse City eyes bond to fix roads
Winter 2012-13 laid bare Traverse City's street problems and some city officials want to consider jump-starting a 20-year road repair program with a bond program of up to $20 million.
Continued ... -
Memorial ceremony a tribute to TC's Sgt. Finch
It was a quiet, sunny day when Traverse City Police Sgt. Dennis Finch responded to a call about a man with a gun outside a Wellington Street home.
Continued ... -
Farm bill would help fruit growers
Both pending versions of the 2013 Farm Bill would make crop insurance available to cherry farmers, northern Michigan's federal legislators said.
Continued ... -
United Way launches iPhone app for volunteering
iPhone users who want to find local volunteer opportunities through the United Way now can get information at the tips of their fingertips.
Continued ... -
Inland Seas' Kelly to weigh anchor
Tom Kelly, who launched the first sailing schoolship program on the Great Lakes 25 years ago, will retire at year's end.
Continued ... -
Traverse City manager to make $100K a year to start
Traverse City’s likely new city manager will earn $100,000 a year to start and could raise that to $110,000 by the end of a proposed three-year contract.
Continued ... - Wednesday, May 15, 2013
-
Leelanau will pay to settle lawsuit
Leelanau County will pay $55,000 to settle a lawsuit stemming from allegations county sheriff’s deputies illegally detained a man.
Continued ... -
NMC may hike tuition for some
Northwestern Michigan College board members took their first look at next year’s draft budget, which included a nearly 32 percent tuition hike for the nursing, automotive, and audio-tech programs.
Continued ... -
Home foreclosure could be 'windfall' for Benzie
Tax foreclosure on a lakefront home valued near $800,000 could be a “windfall” for Benzie County.
Continued ...
-
