Recreation park owner arrested

PERKINS TWP. — A local business owner is facing a sex crime felony after a two-week investigation by Perkins police. Robert L. Stein, 42, of the 3200 block of Stonewood Drive, is facing one fifth-degree felony count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. Stein is the owner of Adventure Play on Milan Road (U.S. 250) near Walmart. It's labeled as Ohio's first and largest indoor inflatable park with an emphasis on youth play. He was transported to Erie County Jail and incarcerated under a $5,000 bond. He has a court appearance on Wednesday in Sandusky Municipal Court. What's alleged Stein allegedly exchanged sexually explicit images and videos with a minor in late January, according to Perkins police Detective Joseph Rotuno. The exchanges took place over the social media app Snapchat. After investigating the allegations, police executed a search warrant at Stein's home on Tuesday morning. Stein was present and arrested during the warrant search. None of the illegal behavior took place at the recreation center, according to Rotuno. Stein and the minor interacted over Snapchat on Jan. 26, police said. Rotuno said the minor later came to the realization that the conversation was inappropriate and reached out to a friend. Rotuno said the friend then reached out to another individual about the situation. That individual is a mandatory reporter, which is a person in a profession who is legally obligated to inform law enforcement upon hearing about or whenever suspecting a child is a victim of abuse. That reporter initially contacted Sandusky police, who realized the alleged illegal activity occurred in Perkins Township and forwarded the information to that department. Perkins police asked anyone with information to contact its detective bureau at 419-627-0824, ext. 5.