Man indicted on child porn charges

PORT CLINTON — An Oak Harbor man was indicted on multiple felony sex charges for allegedly downloading and possessing child pornography. Earlier this month, an Ottawa County grand jury indicted Thomas P. Johnson, 32, of the 8700 block of W. Genzman Road, on 38 counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, each a second-degree felony According to Johnson's indictment, the alleged crimes occurred on or about Dec. 18, 2023, where he allegedly helped "create, record, photograph, film, develop, reproduce or publish material that shows a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity." The investigation into Johnson first began after Oak Harbor police Chief Eric Parker contacted the Ottawa County prosecutor's office's major crimes unit regarding a possible child pornography case, according to the investigative report. Parker said that he had received information from Clyde police Detective Ryan Stacy that someone using an IP address linked to addresses in Sandusky and Ottawa counties downloaded and uploaded suspected "child sexual abuse material." The Ohio State Highway Patrol's computer crimes unit investigated the IP address and the files as well and described finding "pre-pubescent children" depicted in the files, the report states. Johnson was arrested and booked into the Ottawa County Jail on Aug. 21. His next court hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 18, and his bond is currently set at $300,000.