LCC professor involved with church charged after child sex sting operation
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A Lansing Community College professor is on administrative leave after being arrested during a police child sex sting operation.
Jonathan Marshall Tenbrink, 42, is charged with one count each of child sexually abusive activity and accosting a minor for immoral purposes, and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime.
Lansing Police Department Special Operations Section and a detective from Eaton County Sheriff arrested Tenbrink while conducting a sting operation on July 17.
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Tenbrink was arraigned July 18 in the 54A District Court in Lansing. He pled not guilty on all counts.
The Court document spelled his last name as “Tenbrink,” but the college spells it as “Ten Brink” online.
Dr. Tenbrink is listed as the LCC Music Program Faculty Chair.
An LCC official confirmed with 6 News that “a Lansing Community College employee has been placed on administrative leave effective July 18, 2024, following an arrest by the Lansing Police Department. As the case is pending, we have no additional comments at this time.”
Tenbrink was also involved with the Okemos Community Church as Director of Worship, Music and Technology until Mon., July 22, four days before his arrest. He had served at the church since August 2018, and resigned from his position.
The Okemos Community Church maintains that Tenbrink did not have direct contact with minors in his professional role at the church and that they have not been contacted by authorities regarding the investigation.
“We are in the early stages of our investigation,” Tenbrink’s attorney, Edwar Zeineh told 6 News in a written statement. “It is always important to remind others that our client is presumed innocent of these charges, a constitutional right which all citizens have.”
Tenbrink has a scheduled probable cause conference on Aug. 1 at 9:30 a.m.
As of Friday, he is out on a $50,000 bond.
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