Holly man 'lurking in the shadows' in child sex case

Federal prosecutors describe Jeremy McCallum as “a monster lurking in the shadows” who presided over a “house of horrors” for nearly a decade where at least three children endured horrific sexual abuse.

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors wrote that the Holly man recalled the abuse on video and through images and “used every opportunity to exploit the children unfortunate enough to cross his path.”

“In an area of law that illuminates the darkest corner of human existence, McCallum holds a special place. His crimes are numerous and unspeakably terrible. And he accepted his responsibility only after all options to avoid solving his crimes had failed,” said the prosecutor’s memorandum on his sentencing began.

McCallum, 48, was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit to 85 years in prison after pleading guilty in June to 11 charges, including 10 counts of child sexual exploitation and one count of child pornography.

The first lawsuit against McCallum was filed in federal court in February 2020.

U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said McCallum committed “egregious crimes.” Cheyvoryea Gibson, the special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan, said in a press release from Ison’s office: “These heinous acts of sexual exploitation, particularly against children, are among the most horrific crimes investigated by our office.”

Federal prosecutors asked for a sentence that would guarantee McCallum’s death in prison – the maximum of 3,480 months or 290 years – which they said was the benchmark in the case. A 290-year prison sentence, prosecutors wrote in their memo, “unfortunately represents a sentence of significantly less than six months or less for each sexual assault” of just one of his victims.

Of the victim, who suffered for about eight years from the age of four, they said that on the first night of the abuse, McCallum pulled out a gun, pointed it at her little sister and threatened her. He told the victim that she would “lose her sister” if she told anyone what had happened. He is accused of crimes against two girls and a boy, and may be accused of sexually assaulting one victim “well over 500 times.”

They said McCallum exploited vulnerable women to gain access to their children, whom he could abuse and attack. According to prosecutors, one victim was subjected to nighttime rapes, some of which were recorded.

Prosecutors wrote that in January 2020, a minor McCallum knew ran away from his home and told authorities he was a pedophile and had photos of naked minors.

Authorities searched McCallum’s trailer. Prosecutors said law enforcement found disturbing items, including child pornography and child erotica.

They also found VHS tapes, Polaroid pictures and other images of sexual exploitation of minors. These included videos of him sexually abusing two of the victims, with one of them being sexually abused over a long period of time and the other being sexually abused as a toddler. According to prosecutors, law enforcement also discovered a video of him sexually abusing the third child.

Prosecutors wrote in their memorandum that McCallum initially agreed to plead guilty through criminal tips but backed out. They said he went through lawyers “who often complained about their services while personally insulting them.” After asking to be fired, he told a lawyer that he would “see him in hell” and mocked another lawyer’s stutter, according to records.”

They wrote that McCallum’s criminal history was “unremarkable” and included a conviction for possession of a firearm while under the influence. They argued that he had no criminal record “only because he was able to evade prosecution and arrest through careful planning and manipulation.” They said he had mental health issues, a history of drug abuse and worked continuously until 2011 but rarely after that.

The prosecution also alleged that McCallum was frequently sexually abused during his childhood, wanted to become a teacher and had completed a degree in early childhood education. He also stated during his suspended sentence that his hobbies included visiting playgrounds and water parks.

They said McCallum was “so fearsome that other inmates who had committed similar offenses were horrified when housed with him,” their sentencing memorandum said.

The sentencing memorandum from McCallum’s lawyer Haralambos Mihas said: “There are no excuses or justifications for Mr McCallum’s actions. Children have been abused and the repercussions of this abuse continue to reverberate years after these crimes were committed.”

It was argued that early in his life, McCallum was “victimized by adults who were supposed to provide Jeremy with safety and security and an appropriate role model to follow.” He wrote that his client witnessed addiction and abuse as a toddler; his parents divorced; His father abandoned him and his five siblings and his mother worked constantly to stay above the poverty line.

The defense memorandum said McCallum’s mother asked the Big Brothers/Big Sisters for help and a positive male role model, but instead McCallum was “hunted and sexually abused.” The consequences were a cycle of failed relationships, depression, bipolar illness, alcohol and drug abuse and suicide attempts.

“Fear, low self-esteem and repeated rejection prevented him from seeking help for his attraction to minors,” the memorandum said, adding that McCallum had asked his mother for help, but that ended when she died in 2012. after she was diagnosed with colon cancer. He stayed away from underage children but turned to “self-medication,” using sex dolls, videos and images to deal with his obsessive thoughts and behaviors.

More: The jailed Rochester Hills doctor is now accused of filming himself abusing a 6-year-old

Mihas suggested McCallum be sentenced to 300 months or 25 years in prison.

“As the court looks at Jeremy, it is easy to focus on the crimes he has committed and the frustration he has caused this court and its prison guards. The reality is that “Jeremy is in many ways still the same child and teenager who was abused and victimized by those he should have trusted for advice and support,” the defense memorandum said.

“He is paralyzed by anxiety, depression and an inability to trust others. Since he was imprisoned he has been threatened, beaten and abused. As a result, he can do nothing but lash out in frustration. The positive.” The news is that Jeremy wants help.”

Contact Christina Hall: [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.

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