A Washington C.H. man pleaded guilty recently to child pornography charges and could face up to nine years in prison.
Clarence A. Walters, 26, pleaded guilty on Sept. 14 in Fayette County Common Pleas Court to one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a felony of the second degree, and one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, a felony of the fifth degree. The Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed five other counts in the indictment as part of the plea agreement.
Walters was indicted on May 15 on three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, with two of those second-degree felony counts and one a fourth-degree felony count; two counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, with one of those a second-degree felony count and the other a fourth-degree felony count; one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material or performance, a fifth-degree felony; and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) reportedly investigated the activity and executed a search warrant at 731 Willard St., Walters’ home, on May 8. Electronic devices were confiscated and forensic analysis of Walters’ computer drive is being completed, according to the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the grand jury indictment, Walters allegedly took part in this activity between Jan. 10 and May 8 of this year.
For a felony of the second degree, the maximum aggregate sentence that may be imposed is from two to eight years in prison and a maximum aggregate fine of $15,000. For a felony of the fifth degree, the maximum aggregate sentence that may be imposed is from six to 12 months in prison and a maximum aggregate fine of $2,500.
Walters also faces a five-year mandatory term of post-release control by the Adult Parole Authority.
Walters is to be sentenced this Wednesday by Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven Beathard. He is currently being held in the Fayette County Jail.
