BIG Whoopsy

Eric Welch, 37, a former Ph.D. candidate from Michigan Technological University was sentenced last week in Houghton County, Michigan Circuit Court to 6 months in jail in the wake of his guilty plea to attempting to solicit who he thought was a 14-year-old girl for sex.

Welch, whose wife is expected to deliver a baby on October 1st, was busted in a Michigan State Police sting in May, when a female law enforcement officer posed as a 14-year-old girl to lure internet predators.

Reportedly Welch, who was previously convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in 1996, pleaded guilty in July to a charge of accosting a child for immoral purposes and no contest to manipulating his cell phone to conceal his number. Both offenses are normally crimes which result in four-year sentences.

Welch, who will be credited with the 40 days he has already spent in jail, will also have to serve two years probation during which he can have no form of contact with females under 17.

In addition to the lenient sentence Judge Garfield Hood stated that he would permit Welch’s release from jail for a day after the birth of his child. Welch declined the judge’s generous offer saying that the delivery would take place too far away for him to travel within a day.

Judge Hood suggested to Welch, that he move from Houghton, as he was probably “ruined” there. The judge went on to say, “You have a beautiful, obviously very loyal wife, who I am amazed is standing by you through all this. I would do everything in your power to treat her like a queen for the rest of your married life, because she deserves it.”

In the wake of his arrest, Welch withdrew as a Ph.D. candidate from Michigan Technological University and placed his house on the market.

References:

Houghton man sentenced in CSC sting (9/01/07)

Sex Suspect Sentenced (8/31/07)