COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County District Judge Brent Weigle issued a partial suppression ruling in the ongoing child sexually abusive material case against 44-year-old Ryan Shortridge,of Algansee Township.
In a decision following a heavily contested evidentiary hearing, the court determined that Michigan State Police troopers violated Shortridge’s rights by continuing to question him after he explicitly requested legal counsel, stating he “would rather talk to his lawyer”.
While Judge Weigle ruled that the initial 20-minute encounter outside Shortridge’s home did not constitute formal custody under Miranda guidelines, he declared that the subsequent statements made after the defendant invoked his right to counsel are inadmissible at trial.
The case stems from an October 2025 cybercrime investigation initiated by tips from the messaging application Kik, which ultimately led to Shortridge being charged with seven felony counts, including aggravated child sexually abusive activity and tampering with evidence.
Despite the ruling on his statements, the court has deferred its final decision on whether the physical data retrieved from Shortridge’s phone, unlocked after he provided his passcode to troopers, will be suppressed or allowed as evidence.
Shortridge, who faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted, currently remains free on a $200,000 bond under strict internet and travel restrictions while a status conference is scheduled to take place within 30 days.
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