LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — UPDATE: On Wednesday, Nov. 1, the court set a new pre-trial date for the case to February 9, 2024. The prosecution and Chesser's lawyers argued that they needed more time to investigate the case.
UPDATE: On Tuesday, Sept. 26, Jeremy Chesser was arraigned in federal court where he pleaded not guilty. He will remain behind bars until his pretrial phone hearing on Nov. 1. Chesser was ordered not to have any contact with biological, adopted or foster children.
The original story is included below:
A federal grand jury indicted former Springfield Township firefighter Jeremy Chesser on three charges related to sex crimes against children Wednesday, following his arrest in late August.
According to a court document, Chesser, of Maumee, is facing two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. In the first count, he is accused of producing sexually explicit material involving a minor victim under two years old from Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, 2022. The second count accused Chesser of producing sexually explicit material with a victim aged 13 to 14 between Jan. 1, 2022 to on or about Aug. 30, 2023.
RELATED: In wake of allegations against Jeremy Chesser, how are foster parents vetted in Lucas County?
Chesser was also indicted on Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography between the dates of Jan. 1, 2013 and Aug. 30, 2023.
"Hundreds, 1,000 images of what appeared to be child pornography," were found on Chesser's phone by authorities, according to a court document detailing the charges.
Chesser is the father of 10 children, several of whom are foster children. He was also fostering children at the time of his arrest.
On Sept. 2, his employment with the Springfield Twp. Fire Department was terminated.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 26 for arraignment.
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