GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- An Alto man who allegedly possessed 32,000 images of child pornography has cared for 29 children over the years: biological children, children he and his wife adopted, exchange students and foster children.

Jeffrey Victor Marchione also worked as a counselor in Grand Rapids where he was in contact with many children, an FBI special agent testified Tuesday, July 16.

“I see the defendant has surrounded himself with children all of his life,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Scoville said.

"Either he's Mother Teresa or he has an unhealthy interest in children. Pretty clearly, the latter."



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Marchione is accused of distributing child pornography and advertising on the Internet to add to his collection.

A federal prosecutor asked Scoville to lock up Marchione pending trial after the FBI recently learned that Marchione allegedly molested a 12- or 13-year-old boy a couple of years ago.

But Scoville said federal law required prosecutors to move for detention of a suspect at the initial court hearing. Prosecutors in June did not oppose Marchione’s release.

“The government is not entitled to seek detention thereafter,” Scoville said. “You can’t ask to open a hearing that never happened in the first place.”

Marchione was not accused of violating any bond conditions. The judge, however, added conditions to his release. He will be on home detention, with GPS to track his movements.

Special agent Aaron Bartholomew said that Marchione worked as a counselor and as a mentor over the years. One of the boys he mentored recently came forward and told the FBI that Marchione molested him two or three years ago.

Bartholomew also said there are indications Marchione could be suicidal. Police raided his home last August.

A daughter and three sons declined to comment after the hearing.

E-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar