Former East Liverpool Police Officer secretly indicted for sendi - WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren Ohio

A former East Liverpool Police Officer is free on bond after appearing in court on a charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.

The charge is levied against 51-year-old Shawn Long in a secret indictment handed up by the Columbiana County Grand Jury in February, but not served until Tuesday.

The indictment says Long provided obscene material to a 17-year-old child in March 2020.

Long resigned from his job with the East Liverpool Police Department in 2021 amid an investigation into accusations he sent "inappropriate messages" to a student. Long had been on paid administrative leave for just under a year until his resignation.

Long allegedly sent the messages to the student on social media when he was a school resource officer for East Liverpool City Schools.

Long had been with the department for more than 20 years.

Another court hearing for Long is scheduled on September 22.