Friday, May 26, 2023

PONTIAC, Mich. - On May 25, 2023, Oakland County Prosecutor KAREN D. McDONALD added new charges against defendant Gavin Kassab related to the Walled Lake fatal crash that killed 13-year-old Piper Carrothers and seriously injured her sister and mother. Prosecutor McDonald also issued new charges against Kassab, a 19-year-old resident of Commerce Township. Kassab is charged with ten counts of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) (two counts of Aggravated Child Sexually Abusive Activity, three counts of Aggravated Child Sexually Abusive Activity Distributing or Promoting, and five counts of Using Computers to Commit a Crime).

The CSAM charges stem from allegations that in the fall of 2022, Kassab, then 18-years-old, sent a 16-year-old victim and her parents harassing messages and links to explicit videos of the victim. The defendant also allegedly livestreamed explicit videos of the victim to his Instagram account.

"Taking and distributing photos or videos of underage girls and kids is exploitation, and my office will vigorously prosecute those responsible," stated Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. "My office takes these charges extremely seriously and will fight for justice for the victim and her family."

Kassab was arraigned this morning in the 48th District Court before Magistrate Julie Nelson-Klein on the ten CSAM charges. Bond was set at $750,000 cash or surety, no 10%.

When Kassab was arraigned before on the added charges of Manslaughter and Reckless Driving Causing Death charges relating to the fatal crash, the Prosecutor's Office asked the Court to increase Kassab's bond from $250,000 to $750,000. 52-1 District Court Magistrate Andra Richardson granted the Prosecutor's Office request, and defendant Kassab is now being held at the Oakland County Jail on bonds totaling $1.5 Million.

Aggravated Child Sexually Abusive Activity is a felony offense punishable by up to 25 years imprisonment and/or a fine up to $125,000. Aggravated Child Sexually Abusive Activity Distributing or Promoting is a felony offense punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine up to $75,000. Using computers to Commit a Crime is a felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine up to $20,000.

The Probable Cause Conference on the CSAM charges is set for June 5 at 9:30 am and the Preliminary Examination June 12 at 9:30 am before Judge Small of the 52-1 District Court.

Charges are accusations and individuals are presumed innocent until and unless they are proven guilty.

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