STEVENS POINT Wis.
A history professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point pleaded guilty to a single count of possession of child pornography Wednesday and had a second charge dismissed.
Michael Foret, 53, was arrested April 17 for uploading sexually explicit photographs of young children onto an image sharing Web site.
Foret, a specialist in the history of southeastern American Indians, told detectives he liked boys and girls of ages of 11 to 17 but said he had not “acted on anything,” according to the criminal complaint.
“The defendant said that other people play fantasy sports and that he uses the Internet and these sites as his fantasy outlet,” the complaint said.
Foret appeared in court with defense lawyer Matthew Prior, tersely answering questions from Waushara County Circuit Judge Guy Dutcher. Judge John Finn of Portage County had recused himself from the case, citing his connection with the university’s advisory Academy of Letters and Sciences.
“Do you agree that the criminal complaint in this matter accurately described what happened (on April 17)?,” Dutcher asked Foret.
“Yes, sir,” answered Foret.
The second count of possession of child pornography was dismissed but read into the record.
District Attorney Tom Eagon told the court he would recommend three years in prison and three years of extended supervision when Foret is sentenced in February. The charge carries up to 25 years in prison.
Foret was suspended with pay and barred from campus after his arrest.
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