La Porte Man Accused of Transportation Child Pornography

A La Porte man is accused of transporting child pornography in a charge filed following an investigation led by the FBI’s Gang Investigative Team. 

FBI agents responded to a complaint filed on July 2, 2019 by a book publisher alleging improper content submitted for publication in three books authored by 50-year-old Michael Christianson.  According to information released by the United States Attorney’s Office, the books appear to be geared toward children with large fonts, simple words with rhyming sentences.  It goes on to say that the book’s material explains and shows images of body parts and sexually explicit conduct. 

Christianson was convicted on a charge of child molesting in 2002 and was sentenced to serve 30 years in prison.  He was released in 2016 and required to register as a Sexually Violent Predator.  He was on probation at the time of his alleged offense.

The Indiana State Police, Michigan City Police Department, Lake County Illinois State’s Attorney’s Office, and La Porte County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the investigation. 

Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.