JCC camp counselor in child porn case enters plea deal

Matthew Kuppe allegedly took photos of naked boys in the locker room of the JCC of Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and shared them on a Russian website.

By JTA
Matthew Kuppe, center, posing in a Facebook post dated Aug. 9, 2015 with the caption, “This is how you celebrate 21!” (photo credit: FACEBOOK)
Matthew Kuppe, center, posing in a Facebook post dated Aug. 9, 2015 with the caption, “This is how you celebrate 21!”
(photo credit: FACEBOOK)
A former JCC camp counselor in suburban Detroit charged with creating and distributing child pornography has entered into a plea agreement.
In the case of Matthew Kuppe, 21, a spokeswoman for the US Attorney’s Office told the Detroit News she could not discuss the agreement. The spokeswoman, Gina Balaya, did confirm an Aug. 4 hearing date in US District Court.
Kuppe, who was released on bond in November, allegedly took photos of naked boys in the locker room of the JCC of Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and shared them on a Russian website. He worked as a counselor at the Jewish community center’s day camp for two years, but was fired immediately following his arrest in August 2015.
The JCC also dismissed three supervisors who failed to notify senior management after an employee voiced concerns about Kuppe’s conduct.
Kuppe reportedly could have faced 20 years in prison.