HILLSDALE — A Hillsdale man waived his right to a preliminary hearing in 2B District Court on Wednesday, March 6, and instead referred his case to the 1st Judicial Circuit Court for further hearing. requested to be detained.
Mark Russell Shemwell, 45, co-owner of Shemwell Martial Arts Academy, an Indiana-based network specializing in outings, speaks in front of his business in Jonesville on Jan. 23. He was arrested after encountering members of “Exposing Predators of Innocent Children.'' – Become a child predator on live social media. The Facebook Live post quickly went viral.
In a Facebook video, Shemwell first admitted to sexting a “15-year-old girl” and arranging to meet and have sex with her. It turned out that the victim was an adult male, and EPIC Group was working as a decoy.
Jonesville police responded to Shemwell's gym, EPIC Group turned over transcripts of text messages proving Shemwell's guilt, and Shemwell was taken into custody.
He was arraigned in 2B District Court on January 24 on charges of accusing a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime, and was ordered held on $15,000 bail, but remains on trial. He has not posted bail for pre-trial release.
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If convicted of the charges, Shemwell could face up to 11 years in prison.
He is tentatively scheduled for formal arraignment in Circuit Court on March 11 at 8:30 a.m.
— Contact reporter Corey Murraycmurray@hillsdale.net Or follow him on X (formerly Twitter: @cmurrayHDN).
