Port Clinton man pleads guilty in child porn case

PORT CLINTON — A Port Clinton man accused of downloading and possessing child pornography pleaded guilty to all five felony charges listed in his indictment on Monday. David Oliver Henry Mehlow, 64, of the 6900 block of W. Lakeshore Drive, pleaded guilty to three counts of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, each a second-degree felony; and two counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, each a second-degree felony. No charges appeared to be amended or dismissed as a result of his plea. Mehlow is scheduled to be sentenced at 10 a.m. on July 2, according to court records. Background The investigation into Mehlow first began on Sept. 30, 2025, when the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office received a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force regarding "juvenile nudity," according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office report. According to Mehlow's indictment, the crimes occurred on or about Sept. 23 when he downloaded obscene material that depicted children participating in sexual activity. Mehlow was arrested by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and booked into the Ottawa County Jail on Oct. 1, according to jail records.