Former cop charged with child sex crimes

OAK HARBOR — A former Wallbridge, Ohio, police officer was arrested Wednesday on two sex crimes involving children. Austin M. Sabo, 23, of the 200 block of E. Main St., Oak Harbor, is facing one count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, both of which are fifth-degree felonies. Officers from the Oak Harbor and Elmore police departments and members of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at a home in the 200 block of W. Park St. as part of an ongoing child sexual abuse material investigation, according to a news release from the Ottawa County major crimes unit. Sabo was allegedly exchanging nude images with an underage girl, the release states. As of late Sunday, Sabo is incarcerated in Ottawa County Detention Facility under a no-bond order. Sabo's arraignment is not listed in jail or court records. Walbridge Mayor Ed Kolanko said Sabo was fired from his police position on Wednesday, according to 13 Action News in Toledo. Sabo was still in his probationary period. During the execution of this search warrant, an electronic storage detection dog, K-9 Oak, located several electronic devices "of evidentiary value," according to the release. Oak was on loan from OUR Rescue, an organization focused on combatting child exploitation and human trafficking. Agents of the Ottawa County major crimes unit interviewed Sabo, who allegedly admitted to the allegations, the release states. Those with information on child abuse or other crimes against victims are urged to contact Ottawa County's major crimes unit at 419-898-3155.