WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. – In a court document filed Thursday, federal investigators say a 21-year-old man who worked as a camp counselor at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield likely had sexual contact with children at the camp.
Federal investigators say it is “extremely likely” Matthew Kuppe “engaged in some form of sexual contact with campers at the JCC summer camp in 2014 and 2015.”
“It is also extremely likely that the victims of (Kuppe’s) sexual abuse may not come forward or be identified,” the document reads.
Earlier this month Kuppe pleaded not guilty to six counts of production, possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography. He remains behind bars where he has been since his arrest two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the Jewish Community Center, where federal investigators say Kuppe took pictures of campers and sent them to a Russia-based child porn website, started firing camp employees. The firings were not just for missing this incident.
Overall, three camp staff members were terminated.
It turns out the center received warnings about Kuppe while he worked at the camp last summer. He was still rehired this summer despite the warnings.
His parents, through defense attorneys, promised to supervise their son 24/7 if he was was freed under house arrest and on a tether. Attorneys argued the former honor student has strong family support.
However, Judge Vivian Patrick ruled his release was not worth the risk to the community.
