COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A 39 year old- Bronson man is facing multiple felonies following an online investigation of a BitTorrent network for offenders sharing child sexually abusive material (CSAM).
David Thomas Slaybaugh , has been charged in 3-A District Court with several felony counts related to child sexually abusive material.
The Michigan State Police investigation led to charges including two counts of aggravated child sexually abusive activity, one count of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime.
According to the complaint, the investigation began on December 8, 2025, when authorities monitoring a BitTorrent network identified an IP address downloading child sexually abusive videos. A search warrant traced the address to a residence on Walker Street in Bronson occupied by Slaybaugh and his mother.
A subsequent search of the home uncovered extensive evidence on multiple devices linked to Slaybaugh, including over 400 images on his phone, more than 100 videos and images on a Samsung SSD, and tens of thousands of additional images and videos on external hard drives.
Some of the material depicted pre-pubescent children in explicit sexual acts. An email address associated with the account was found on the seized devices.
Slaybaugh faces significant penalties on the charges, which carry maximum sentences ranging from 10 to 25 years in prison along with substantial fines.
A $100,000 cash or surety bond was set by judge Brent Weigle, with conditions prohibiting unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 and possession of internet-capable computers or phones.
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