Lakeside-Marblehead man receives prison for attempted sex crimes

PORT CLINTON — A Lakeside-Marblehead man who was one of eight people arrested in an undercover investigation after attempting to solicit sex from children recently pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison. On Feb. 27, Stephen J. Walterbach, 44, of the 300 block of Forest Green Drive, pleaded guilty to all three felony charges listed in his July 2025 indictment, including attempted unlawful sexual contact with a minor, importuning and possession of criminal tools. No charges were dismissed or amended as a result of his guilty plea. Following his plea, Ottawa County Common Pleas Court Judge Bruce Winters sentenced Walterbach to serve two years in prison, according to court records. Under the terms of his sentencing, Walterbach also received credit for about eight months served in jail and will be placed on a mandatory five-year term of post-release control. Walterbach is additionally classified as a Tier 2 sex offender, which means that he must verify his home and work addresses every six months for a period of 25 years, court records state. Background The investigation into Walterbach began in June 2025 when he was arrested following a four-day undercover operation, which targeted alleged "online child predators." The operation was a joint effort involving the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Ottawa County prosecutor's office, and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to a news release from the prosecutor's office. As part of the operation, law enforcement officers within Ottawa County posed as children between the ages of 12 and 15 on various online platforms. People who "initiated contact and expressed intent to engage in sexual activity" allegedly agreed to travel to pre-arranged locations with the belief that they were going to be meeting with a child. Some of the individuals allegedly offered monetary compensation in exchange for sexual conduct, the release states. The seven other people arrested as part of the investigation include: • Noelan L. Winston, 21, fourth block Richland Ave., Huron, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, possession of criminal tools and attempted complicity to sexual battery. • Robert L. Neuenschwander, 75, of Delta, Ohio, was charged with two counts of importuning, two counts of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of possession of criminal tools. • Luis Romero Perez, 29, of Toledo, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and possession of criminal tools. • Keith G. Geyer, 46, of North Royalton, Ohio, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, compelling prostitution and possession of criminal tools. • Ryan S. Thomas, 40, of Swanton, Ohio, was charged with importuning and possession of criminal tools. • Larry C. Wymer, 35, of Whitehouse, Ohio, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, possession of criminal tools and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. Wymer is classified as a Tier 2 sex offender, having previously been convicted in 2013 in Lucas County of gross sexual imposition involving a minor. • Adam J. Smith, 38, of Oregon, Ohio, was charged with importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and possession of criminal tools.