Accused text predator now faces felonies

A Monroeville man accused of sending hundreds of random, racy text messages now faces felony charges.A Huron County grand jury this week indicted Jason P. Starkey, 31, on five counts of telecommunications harassment, all fifth-degree felonies. Each charge is punishable by up to a year in prison, according to state sentencing guidelines.He initially faced lesser charges in Norwalk Municipal Court, but the charges were re-filed as felonies because Starkey was convicted of the same offense in 2009.After an investigation that lasted several weeks, Monroeville police found Starkey hiding in a closet in his parents' Hollister Street home last month and arrested him.Residents in the village and other local communities reported receiving messages from a phone number they didn't recognize — a number police later traced to Starkey.They seized several cell phones and a computer from him.Those belongings are still being examined at the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation's computer crimes unit, Monroeville police Capt. James Bond said.He said he's pleased Starkey has been indicted and looks forward to presenting the evidence, which he believes is substantial.Starkey is being held in the Huron County jail on a $50,000 bond.He's being represented by public defender David Longo, who did not return a call seeking comment Wednesday. Starkey's arraignment hasn't yet been set.The grand jury handed down one other indictment this week, charging Tonya L. Moore, 32, of Columbus, with one count of forgery.