Attorney Charged with Possessing Child Sexually Abusive Material

Published on April 22, 2026

Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged attorney Nelson Otto Ropke, 41, of Grosse Pointe Park, in connection with possessing and distributing child sexually abusive material.

It is alleged that at his home in the 800 block of Harcourt Road in Grosse Pointe Park, Defendant Ropke was in possession of photos and videos containing child sexually abusive images of prepubescent children. The investigation conducted by the Michigan State Police led to the arrest of Defendant Ropke on April 21, 2026. More complete facts and evidence will be placed on the record in court at the preliminary examination.

“There are many times in this job where we encounter alleged facts where you wonder how some people can sink to certain levels of depravity. This is one of those cases. There is really nothing left to say here,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

Nelson Otto Ropke has been charged* with:

• Count One: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated (Maximum Penalty of 25 Years)
• Count Two: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated (Maximum Penalty of 25 Years)
• Count Three: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated Distribution (Maximum Penalty of 15 Years)

• Count Four: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated Distribution (Maximum Penalty of 15 Years) 

• Count Five: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated Distribution (Maximum Penalty of 15 Years)
• Count Six: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated Distribution (Maximum Penalty of 15 Years)
• Count Seven: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated Possession (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Eight: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated Possession (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Nine: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated Possession (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Ten: Child Sexually Abusive Activity - Aggravated Possession (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Eleven: Capturing/Distributing Image of Unclothed Person (Maximum Penalty of 5 Years)
• Count Twelve: Capturing/Distributing Image of Unclothed Person (Maximum Penalty of 5 Years)
• Count Thirteen: Possession of Child Sexually Abusive Matter (Maximum Penalty of 4 Years)
• Count Fourteen: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 20 Years)
• Count Fifteen: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 20 Years)
• Count Sixteen: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Seventeen: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Eighteen: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Nineteen: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Twenty: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Twenty-One: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Twenty-Two: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Twenty-Three: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 10 Years)
• Count Twenty-Four: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 4 Years)
• Count Twenty-Five: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 4 Years)
• Count Twenty-Six: Using a Computer to Commit a Crime (Maximum Penalty of 4 Years)

Today the defendant was arraigned in Grosse Pointe Park Municipal Court, before Judge John R. Parnell, Jr. He received a $1 million cash bond. He was ordered to surrender his passport, all devices with cameras, have no access to devices with internet usage, no contact with anyone under 18 years of age, and no contact with specified family members.  If he is able to post bond he must have a GPS tether. His Probable Cause Conference is on May 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., and his Preliminary Examination is on May 13, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Michigan State Police.

*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

#####