COLUMBUS — Authorities say a former Columbus police spokesman has been charged with sending and receiving videos and images on his cellphone of children having sex with adults.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien says 51-year-old Sgt. Dean Worthington was indicted Wednesday for illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance and pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor.
Sgt. Rich Weiner, interim CPD spokesperson, addresses local media after Ron O'Brien Franklin County Prosecutor announced the indictment of a 21-year-veteran officer for child pornography.https://t.co/G4g8OqfHYW
— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) July 25, 2018
O’Brien says that a task force began investigating Worthington in May after being notified by the social media site Tumblr that child pornography had been uploaded on the site.
O’Brien says the task force has searched Worthington’s home.
Worthington surrendered Wednesday.
Defense attorney Dan Sabol says Worthington will plead not guilty during his arraignment Friday.
The Columbus Division of Police will conduct an internal investigation and Worthington could be fired, interim spokesman Sgt. Rich Weiner said.