Two Columbiana Co. men facing charges after searches reveal child pornography
Two men from Columbiana County have been arrested on charges related to child pornography investigations.
The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force (MVHTTF) and other local agencies executed two search warrants Thursday.
The first search was at a home in the 49000 block of State Route 154 in Rogers. According to the MVHTTF, the search comes after a tip that a person there had uploaded child pornography online.
Police arrested 34-year-old John Chaffin Jr. at the home and collected cell phones, computers and other electronics as evidence.
Chaffin Jr. is facing charges of pandering obscenity involving a minor and drug paraphernalia and was taken to the Columbiana County Jail.
The task force also searched a home in the 1500 block of Depot Road in Salem on Thursday.
The search stemmed from another tip that a man at the home had uploaded pornographic material involving a child online.
Barry Stephens, 63, was arrested during the search.
According to the release, computers, cell phones and other electronics were seized and a vast amount of child pornography was found during a review of Stephens' computer.
Stephens has been booked in the Columbiana County Jail and is facing charges of pandering obscenity involving a minor and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.
Two other searches have been conducted in Columbiana County this month. Officers searched a home in Wellsville on February 21 after a lengthy investigation into child pornography there. Another search was done on February 14 at a home in East Palestine after another investigation.