A former Struthers tow truck driver convicted of paying teenagers for sex and recording video of one of those encounters is asking a federal judge to release him from prison after serving four years of a 17-year sentence.

Attorney Rhys Cartwright-Jones has filed a Petition for Relief from a Conviction or Sentence on behalf of his client Alex Bugno, who was convicted in February 2020 of compelling prostitution, and one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor.

The conviction resulted from an investigation that began in 2014 when state agents and local police searched the Indianola Avenue offices of Bugno Towing, where Bugno worked. They also searched the towing company's storage facility on North Garland Avenue.

A Youngstown man told police that an employee of the towing company had been paying his sixteen-year-old son to perform sex acts on the boy.

An indictment alleged that Bugno had sexual contact with a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old on several occasions during 2014 before the raid.

According to an affidavit, two juvenile males claimed that an employee of the towing company paid them between $200 and $500 each on several occasions to let him perform a sex act on the two boys. The boys claim other juveniles also took part, and the alleged acts took place at all three locations.

The boys allegedly told investigators that many times, the man would have them take a white pill before asking them to undress. They also reportedly said that the man would record videos of the sex acts, and either live stream or post them on the internet.

Police say the boys’ mobile phones contained text messages indicating that the man owed them money. The phones also contained pictures; large quantities of U.S. currency in the same denominations described as being paid to the boys.

The pandering obscenity charge stemmed from allegations that Bugno made a pornographic video with a minor sometime between 2011 and 2014.

Characterizing Bugno’s case as “judicial theatre” and “an operatic drama”, Attorney Cartwright-Jones cites in a memorandum supporting his petition three reasons that his client’s conviction should be overturned.

Defense counsel claims Bugno's rights were violated because investigators seized certain items during searches that were not authorized by the warrants.

Cartwright-Jones also argues that Bugno was denied the right to a fair trial because during closing arguments the prosecutor told jurors that Bugno had "sick, sexual desires" as well as making other "improper comments".

Thirdly, the petition claims that a mistrial should have been declared because the evidence was presented to the jury that Bugno refused to answer the investigator's questions when first arrested.

Prosecutors have yet to file a response to Bugno's petition in U.S. District Court.

So far, Bugno's appeals have not been successful.  The U.S. Supreme Court and the Ohio Supreme Court have refused to review his case.

According to state records, Bugno is not eligible for his first parole hearing until January 2037.