KALAMAZOO, MI – When police caught up with him in May, Austin J. Wiedeman had almost 100 videos of child pornography on his computers.

They contained images of children younger than 12. Some even depicted sex acts between children and animals, according to documents filed in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

At the time, Wiedeman, 25, of Kalamazoo Township, admitted to sheriff's deputies that he was sexually attracted to children and animals.

"(Defendant) had two computers with 92 videos on them depicting sex acts with kids (younger than) 12, sex acts with animals and sex acts between young kids and animals," according to a bond recommendation form that was filed in May when Wiedeman was arraigned on two counts each of possession of child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime.

Wiedeman pleaded guilty June 16 to one count each of possession of child sexually abusive material and use of a computer to commit a crime. In exchange, the remaining two counts were dismissed.

Possession of child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime are both felonies punishable by up to four years and seven years in prison, respectively.

On Monday, Wiedeman stood with his attorney, William Sykes, before Circuit Judge J. Richardson Johnson where he was sentenced to one day already served in jail and three years of probation. As part of his conviction, his name will be on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry for the next 15 years.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein said sheriff's investigators found "absolutely no evidence" Wiedeman was involved in the manufacturing of child pornography, an offense under Michigan law that is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

She also said there was no evidence that indicated any of the videos found on Wiedeman's computers were produced locally. She said sheriff's Detective Sgt. Jeff Baker, who investigated the case, told prosecutors some of the videos found on Wiedeman's computers were videos police had seen previously in other similar investigations.

Klein said she doesn't know if local authorities have the ability, as of now, to identify children in videos like those that were found on Wiedeman's computers.

Sykes told Johnson on Monday that the case was Wiedeman's first felony conviction and that his only prior run-in with the law was a drunk-driving conviction.

"My client was readily willing to admit to what he had done in this matter when it was brought to his attention by authorities and he sought out counseling on his own once this came to light," Sykes said. "My client does recognize that what he did was inappropriate and wrong and certainly does not want to redo that again."

Wiedeman's minimum sentencing guideline range in the case was zero to 11 months in jail and Sykes noted that a presentence investigator from the Michigan Department of Corrections recommended a five-year term of probation for his client.

Sykes on Monday argued for a shorter term of probation – two years – and told Johnson that if Wiedeman could "walk the straight and narrow" for that period of time it would be adequate enough to show that he had changed his ways.

Sykes also argued against a probation requirement for Wiedeman that would have prevented him from having access to any device that connects to the internet. He contended that a requirement of probation that mandates Wiedeman submit to any search upon request would ensure his client wasn't using any device inappropriately.

"It's getting downright difficult to exist these days without being able to go on the internet," Sykes said.

Wiedeman did not speak during Monday's sentencing, other than to question the court through Sykes about when he would receive his computer back from investigators. Sykes told the judge his client had "a whole lot of things on that computer other than what got him into trouble."

Johnson, before handing down Wiedeman's sentence Monday, did away with the probation mandate that he not have any access to the internet. He also said he felt rehabilitation was appropriate in the case.

"Your response to the discovery made by law enforcement suggests a level of candor that indicates to me rehabilitation is appropriate," Johnson said. "You're taking steps to deal with the issues described within the report and I think those steps are appropriate."

In addition to time served and probation, Johnson ordered Wiedeman to pay attorney fees and state fees.

Rex Hall Jr. is a public safety reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. You can reach him at rhall2@mlive.com. Follow him on Twitter.