Christopher Haxel

Lansing State Journal

ST. JOHNS – A St. Johns man photographed his sexual assault of a 9-year-old child and then agreed to share those photos with a local woman, leading to child pornography and other charges against both of them and a third man, according to court records.



Police in St. Johns began investigating in July after they were told a child had “been acting strange” for several weeks and that there had been “an incident” involving Terry Plowman, 52, of St. Johns.

The child told police the incident involved Plowman “placing his penis on (the victim’s) back and taking a picture of it with a cell phone."

Police said they found three sexually explicit images that appeared to show Plowman’s penis on or near the victim’s body on Plowman’s phone.

He was arraigned Aug. 15 on one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, and two counts related to child pornography. Second-degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony involving sexual contact with someone under age 13. Fourth degree is a misdemeanor offense. Both child pornography charges are felonies.

According to court records:

Police found evidence on Plowman's phone that he sent the images of the child to 50-year-old Carol Boak, of St. Johns, after she requested them.

Investigators obtained a search warrant and found the photos on her phone and computer.

They also found a video that shows Boak’s “vaginal area being licked by what is suspected to be her own dog.”

A third person, 43-year-old Kenneth Thelen of Westphalia, also received the photos of the assault of the child from Boak, police testified after searching his phone and computer. Boak also sent the video of herself and the dog to Thelen.

Boak was charged earlier this month with second-degree criminal sexual conduct, three counts related to child pornography and sodomy, all felonies. Court records indicate she remains jailed on $110,000 bond. Under Michigan law, sodomy is partially defined as “abominable and detestable crime against nature… with any animal.”

Boak, an account examiner supervisor with the Michigan Department of Treasury, was suspended without pay Oct. 7, the day after her arraignment, a department spokeswoman said.

Thelen is charged with three counts related to child pornography, all felonies. Court records indicate he posted his $100,000 bond after his arraignment earlier this month.

Plowman initially posted a $50,000 bond but it was later revoked after he was charged last month with two felony counts of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer. It was not immediately clear Tuesday whether those charges are related to the original investigation.

Boak’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment. Thelen's attorney declined to comment.

All three face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Boak and Thelen on Oct. 27. Plowman requested a bench trial, which is set for Dec. 7.

Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.