(NEW LEXINGTON, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that a convicted sex offender is going back to prison after he was found guilty of possessing child pornography a second time.
Timothy Whitlatch Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor. A Perry County judge sentenced him yesterday to four years in prison.
"This defendant clearly did not learn his lesson after he was convicted on similar charges in the past and has continued to victimize children," said Attorney General DeWine. "This is unacceptable. I am committed to helping law enforcement and prosecutors in Ohio go after these individuals who prey on our kids."
New Lexington Police began investigating Whitlatch in April 2013 after receiving a complaint that he was allegedly viewing inappropriate material on a public computer. Authorities later found 11 child pornography images on his home computer.
"We would like to thank Attorney General DeWine and his staff for their assistance on this investigation," said New Lexington Police Chief Scott Ervin. "They have been extremely helpful to the citizens of Perry County and the Village of New Lexington, and without their assistance, criminal cases such as this would be extremely difficult for our staff to handle alone."
Whitlacth was previously convicted of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor in Perry County in 2006. He was sentenced to two years in prison and required to register as a Tier II sex offender upon release.
Whitlatch will again be required to register as a Tier II sex offender after serving his current sentence. Tier II sex offenders are required to report their addresses to law enforcement every 180 days for 25 years following their release from prison.
Prosecutors with the Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Section prosecuted the case.
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Photograph of Timothy Whitlatch Jr. (JPEG)
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840