ASHLAND — The chief of the Polk Jackson Perry Fire District pleaded not guilty to two additional felonies on Friday related to a previous charge of pandering child pornography.
Brandon Mosher, 36, was arrested Aug. 22 following a months-long investigation into alleged crimes against children. The next day, he was charged with pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person charge, a second-degree felony.
On Friday, he appeared before Ashland County Common Pleas Magistrate Emily Bates for two additional charges, filed Aug. 28:
- pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor (fourth-degree felony)
- illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material (fifth-degree felony)
Through his attorney, James Mayer III, he pleaded not guilty.
He now faces three total felony charges related to sex crimes involving children.
Bond argued
Sean Boone, an attorney in Mayer’s Mansfield practice, argued against the existing $300,000 bond on Friday. He reiterated Mosher’s ties to the community and asked for “something more reasonable.”
Matt Metcalf, an assistant prosecutor of the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office, said the bond should actually increase.
“I don’t believe (Boone) brought up anything we did not know,” he said. “We originally requested $500,000 — I believe that’s more appropriate.”
Metcalf suggested there could be additional charges coming and said Mosher likely faces prison if convicted.
Bates said she would issue an order next week in regards to bond.
She also set a trial date for Nov. 18.
Reusing photos in online chat groups, forums
Metcalf has said Mosher was involved in chat groups and forums related to the circulation of child porn, as well as child sex fantasies. The prosecutor said Mosher would peruse Facebook for photographs of friends with children and reuse them on those sites.
“(Mosher was) fabricating stories related to those children and fantasies related to those children — and those are actual children that we have in the community and surrounding communities,” Metcalf said during an Aug. 22 hearing for the case.
Before being jailed at the Richland County Jail — and now, Ashland County Jail — Mosher worked as a firefighter.
Since June 2015, he served as the part-time chief of Polk Jackson Perry Fire District. He also worked as a fire lieutenant for the City of Fremont.
Both entities placed Mosher on unpaid administrative leave pending the case.
Mosher’s Aug. 21 arrest came after a months-long investigation between the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Records show the sheriff’s office requested the state agency’s assistance on Jan. 14.