Man in jail on child molestation charges

GENESEE COUNTY (WJRT) (WJRT) -- (11/13/07)--A Vienna Township man may have molested at least 70 children over the past two decades, police say.

Kevin Odette, 33, faces 16 felony counts. But investigators say more may be on the way.

Their investigation spans almost the entire state. Authorities say they believe Odette may have molested kids in Gaylord, Lansing, Vienna Township, the city of Flint and Flint Township.

Odette is being held on a $1.6 million bond. The Genesee County sheriff says Odette had made dozens of DVDs highlighting his sexually abusive behavior.

"My investigators, who are seasoned investigators, told me that the videos are the most graphic that they have ever seen," said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.

"One of the investigators said he couldn't watch any more after just watching two of them. It was just so horrible."

The videos include images of children forced to perform all kinds of sex acts.

Investigators found the videos at Odette's Vienna Township home. They also found posters of children along the walls of one bedroom and a diary, which Odette allegedly used to document his behavior.

"He would take kids in the back (of the home) and molest them while their family was there," Pickell said.

His wife lived with him, but she slept in a separate bedroom.

Odette was arrested last week in Burton after a family member found one of the sexually explicit DVDs.

Investigators say Odette may have molested kids starting 24 years ago in Gaylord when he was just 10 years old. The accusations have shocked his neighbors.

"I just can't believe that," said neighbor Elly Burk. "Right here on our back door. It makes me wonder if there's any kids in here that here's gotten."

So far, Odette is formally accused of molesting five children. Authorities urge anyone with any more information about Odette to please come forward.

Pickell speculated as to why no victims approached police until now.

"People don't talk about it," he said. "(Parents) don't want to put their kids through that type of experience."

Police said Odette had no prior criminal record, except for one larceny charge. If convicted of these sex charges, Odette could face life in prison.

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