A Mount Pleasant man pleaded guilty in a firebombing and child sex crime probe.
Alex James Buley-Neumar, 25, pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated child sexually abusive activity; possession of explosives causing property damage; arson; third-degree criminal sexual conduct; stalking a minor; possession of child sexually abusive material; accosting a child for immoral purposes; and using computers to commit a crime, online court records show.
Buley-Neumar was arrested Nov. 29, one day after he threw Molotov cocktails at a residence on Burson Drive in Brighton Township, according to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
Neighbors responded and extinguished the flames, authorities said. At the scene, deputies found damage to the home as well as remains of the explosive devices in the road, investigators said.
Authorities determined the attack was related to harassment and stalking of a juvenile that Buley-Neumar had carried out on social media.
“This case highlights a critical reminder,” the Sheriff’s Office said in December, when the suspect was arraigned. “Parents — please be vigilant about what your children are doing online and who they are communicating with. Online relationships can escalate into real-world danger.”
Buley-Neumar’s attorney, Mark L. Scharrer, said his client plans to share an “extensive allocution” during his sentencing hearing later this month. Scharrer declined further comment.
Since his arraignment, Buley-Neumar has been held at the Livingston County Jail on a $1 million bond.
His sentencing is slated for 1:30 p.m. May 28. He faces a maximum punishment of up to 72 years in prison and $151,000 in fines.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan man pleads guilty to firebombing home, child sex crimes
Reporting by Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
