Two Ohio men were sentenced for possessing child pornography last week. However, the length of those sentences may have some asking if the punishment fits the crime. Between the two of them, law enforcement said they nearly 5,000 pornographic videos and images featuring children. Is the sentence enough? Check out the facts for yourself and decide:
The Suspects
- David Dwayne Weaver, 40, of Dayton
- Zachary Marra, 33, of Dayton
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Weaver had over 1,000 images and an additional 1,000 videos of child pornography on his devices. Marra had over 200 videos and 200 images on his phone.
The Investigation
The Broward County, Florida Sheriff’s Office tipped off the FBI to Weaver’s activity. During a sting, their investigators traded child pornography with Weaver via texts. Weaver used Kik messenger, Telegram messenger, and email to chat about sexual abuse of children. He used social media sites to meet child pornography trading partners and various Dropbox and Google accounts to store his child pornography files. Some of those images were of toddlers.
Homeland Security was the first agency to get wind of Marra’s activity. Agents received a tip from an online messaging service about his activity. They interviewed Marra last spring. Marra admitted trading child porn images on his phone. Agents obtained a search warrant for his phone and determined that between June 2018 and March 2019, he had viewed 223 videos and 213 still images depicting the sexual abuse of prepubescent children.
The Sentences
The judge sentenced Weaver to 90 months in prison. Marra was sentenced on July 13 to 60 months in prison. Both must pay thousands in restitution to their victims. When they are released from prison, they must register as sex offenders.
These are only the latest disturbing cases of child abuse and pornography has come to light in our region. These next three slides highlight other recent arrests.
Thomas Winkelbach
A 79-year-old man pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Cincinnati court for taking sexually explicit photos of a toddler.
Thomas Winkelbach used a digital camera to take sexually explicit pictures of a toddler touching his penis. He also took images of himself masturbating in front of the baby, who was between one and two years old. The crime happened between 2014 and 2015.
Investigators say Winkelbach searched for, downloaded, and traded child pornography online for years. When law enforcement seized his digital media in October of last year, they found thousands of images of child porn.
He could spend up to the next 30 years in prison. Winkelbach agreed to pay restitution to the victim’s family. He also agreed to forfeit ten cameras, three cell phones, eight computers, and all the storage devices he used to store his disgusting collection.
Unfortunately, this is just one of several recent child pornography cases in our area.
Frank E. Andrews
Police charged Frank E. Andrews, 39, of South Webster with 26 counts related to child porn on July 2.
Scioto County Sheriff Marty Donini said his office received a call on June 28 from the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The task force had information about a possible child pornography case.
When Captain John Murphy met with out-of-town law enforcement officials, he learned that more than 100 images of suspected child pornography were uploaded onto a device belonging to the suspect. Detectives served a search warrant at a Jackson Street home in South Webster. Officers confiscated computers and cell phones at the scene.
Kids Trafficked For Pills
Police charged Larry Dean Porter of Wheelersburg in connection with a sex trafficking ring parents traded sex with little boys and girls in exchange for pills.
Included in the charges:
- Conspiring to sex traffic children (15 years up to life in prison)
- Attempting to sex traffic children (15 years up to life)
- Producing child pornography (15 to 30 years)
- Possessing child pornography (up to 10 years)
- Conspiring to obstruct a child sex trafficking investigation (up to 25 years)
- Conspiring to witness tamper (up to 20 years)
Eight other adults are charged in the federal indictment, including Porter’s daughters, friends, and parents who sold their children’s bodies to him in exchange for pills.
