MAMANUCA ISLANDS, FIJI: With 'Survivor' Season 45 on the horizon, fans are curious about the whereabouts of Season 2's most talked-about contestant, Michael Skupin. According to his LinkedIn profile, Michael still works as a director of Business Development.
However, there is a chance that his profile hasn't been updated since his arrest in 2016. Michael can not be found on social platforms, therefore, it is nearly impossible to say what he has been doing after his parole ended in 2021.
On February 5, 2016, Michael was arrested on charges including five counts of larceny by conversion, one count of racketeering, and six counts of child pornography. Explicit images were found on Michael's laptop.
How many years of jail did 'Survivor' Season 2 contestant Michael Skupin get?
People reported that in 2016, Michael received a prison sentence of one to four years for child pornography and larceny charges. Additionally, he was sentenced to four years of probation for the theft charge by the Oakland County Courthouse.
Michael was also ordered by the court to pay $31,800 in restitution. According to the reports, he was also ordered to pay several thousands in court costs.
'Survivor' Season 2 contestant initially pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of child pornography and racketeering. However, in 2016, he ultimately faced accountability for 4 counts of child pornography after entering a no-contest plea to 1 count of larceny by conversion.
Michael continued to plead not guilty for the child pornography charges. He claimed, "I maintain that I didn't do it. That's all I maintain. There were hundreds of people who had access to my computer. I have 11 children who I'm raising, and I have about $1000 a month in child support. there's so much fallout that would result in me going away."
'Survivor' Season 2 contestant Michael Skupin sought forgiveness in child pornography charges
Michael provided a statement ahead of his hearing. Sticking to not being guilty of possessing child pornography, he said, "I lost that faith when a jury of strangers said 'probably' and found me guilty of possession of child porn. I did not look at or download anything on my computer that could have been considered anything even close to child porn."
He continued to claim that the charges filed against him were based on "temporary files created by his computer." He added, "The computer forensics expert for the state admitted that this was on every computer in America and you don't even know it's there. I got scared and took a plea, paid a bulk of restitution by selling my remaining possessions."
Michael maintained his innocence throughout his fight for "cruel and dishonest" media coverage of his case.
Was 'Survivor' Season 2 contestant Michael Skupin convicted?
Michael was reported to have been found guilty of four of the six counts of possession of child pornography. As he left the court, he chose not to provide any comments or answers.
FOX 29 reported that the prosecutor asked Michael, "Do you have any idea how any of those pictures ended up on those laptops?" To which, Michael responded, "I have no idea."
He further asserted that he might have exchanged pictures when he was in a romantic relationship.
Michael served a year in prison and his parole ended on January 3, 2021.
'Survivor' Season 45 will be released on September 27, 2023, at 8 pm ET on CBS.
