NEWS

Galion man nabbed in child porn case

Todd Hill
Reporter

BUCYRUS — A Galion man is sitting in the Crawford County jail on $2 million bond following his arrest Thursday in a six-month-long child pornography investigation.

Marcus Williams, 35, of the 600 block of East Church Street in Galion, is charged with importuning, or soliciting an underage person for sexual conduct, a fourth-degree felony; dissemination of matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony; and possession of criminal tools, a computer and cell phone, also a fifth-degree felony.

“I have never once acted on any of the fantasies I’ve had,” Williams, 35, told Crawford County Municipal Court Judge Shane Leuthold during his appearance in court Friday.

“Having been a victim of this kind of abuse, I really want to turn myself around. I need help to get better, this is not who I want to be. I’m just as disgusted by this as anyone.”

County prosecutor Matthew Crall said Williams’ house was searched, by the FBI and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, after Williams corresponded with a law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. Crall said Williams later confessed to the charges leveled against him.

The prosecutor said additional warrants are being sought for Williams’ residence, and that his computer contains potentially hundreds of images of children performing sexual acts. He added that the investigation could become a federal case.

In 2011, Williams was charged with importuning and disseminating in Jackson County, but was only convicted on the dissemination charge, so he is not a registered sex offender in Ohio.

“If these allegations are true, this is one of the more despicable examples of conduct since my taking the bench,” Judge Leuthold told Williams via a video hook-up with the county jail before setting the $2 million bond.

“If this is true, you’re an immediate danger to the children of Crawford County and I believe you’re a flight risk.”

State investigators said they don’t believe any local juveniles were involved with Williams’ alleged crimes.

Also Friday in Municipal Court, several other people arrested earlier this week in Bucyrus and Galion made their first appearance before a judge.

On Thursday evening, Tony Evans, 44, of the 300 block of Homer Street in Galion, was arrested for heroin possession, a fifth-degree felony, during a traffic stop near his residence. On Friday, Leuthold set bond for Evans at $50,000.

Bond was also set at $50,000 Friday for Michael Hickman, 32, for a fifth-degree felony charge of heroin possession. He’s also facing misdemeanor charges of criminal trespassing and possession of drug-abuse instruments.

On Thursday afternoon, Hickman and Lance Zornes, 30, were arrested for trespassing on railroad tracks in Bucyrus. Zornes was arraigned Friday on a first-degree misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property (gaming equipment). He also owes the court more than $3,000 related to past offenses. Leuthold set bond for Zornes at $10,000, with a 10 percent fee option in exchange for posting bond.

Finally, Dustin Hunt, 28, was arraigned Friday on a variety of charges after fleeing from police during a traffic stop Wednesday morning in Bucyrus. Hunt is accused of obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor, as well as a parole violation (refusing to take a drug test). Leuthold set Hunt’s bond at $25,000 for the parole violation, with a 10 percent option.

The prosecutor’s office said a breaking-and-entering charge for Hunt is pending, stemming from an alleged incident early Wednesday involving Joseph Grasley, who appeared in court earlier in the week for allegedly fleeing from that scene as well.

“It’s somewhat confusing,” Leuthold said.

thill3@nncogannett.com

419-563-9225

Twitter: @ToddHillMNJ