By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz on Friday charged Dr. James Rodney "J.R." McCanse with four counts of possessing child sexually abusive material.
Fitz said the counts resulted from an alleged incident which occurred on or about Oct. 26, 2006, at 57365 M-51 South, Pokagon Township, which is McCanse's Dowagiac office.
McCanse, 57, of 108 Green St., Dowagiac, is a chiropractor with offices in Dowagiac and Decatur.
The Oregon native's practice March 1 celebrated its 30th anniversary.
McCanse came to this area in October 1975 to practice with another chiropractor in Buchanan.
He attended the University of Illinois and Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. He is married, with five children and five grandchildren.
The case was investigated by the Michigan State Police and ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The maximum penalty if convicted is four years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
McCanse surrendered to authorities Friday to face the charges, Fitz said.
He posted an interim $20,000 cash or surety bond set in the case pending formal arraignment at 1:30 p.m. March 28 in Fourth District Court.
A preliminary examination of the evidence had yet to be scheduled.
"This is a good example of the increasing federal, state and local cooperation regarding criminal activity," Fitz said. "Local law enforcement appreciates the seamless cooperation of ICE."
Fitz said ICE, which has an office in Grand Rapids, as part of homeland security, monitors child pornography Web sites.
What the prosecutor described as a "reverse trace" of user information led them to McCanse's computer containing four photographs depicting at least three children.
"People need to keep in the forefront of their thoughts," Fitz said, that every time such images are viewed, children are "revictimized.'