Area man faces child pornography counts

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach said Friday his office has arrested a Grover Hill man on child pornography-related charges.

Dustin R. Garrett, 31, was arrested Friday on six counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and two counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor. Each count is a felony of the second degree.

Sheriff Riggenbach said the arrest was made after a recent session of the Van Wert County Grand Jury returned the eight-count indictment against Garrett. The indictment was a result of an investigation conducted by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Attorney-General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and Van Wert Police Department.

During the investigation, sheriff’s deputies obtained a search warrant for Garrett’s address at 21867 Elm Sugar Road, and when they searched the residence, found evidence of child pornography. BCI investigators seized the evidence in order to further analyze it.

After his arrest, Garrett was taken to the Van Wert County Correctional Facility, where he is being held until his arraignment at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, in County Common Pleas Court. Sheriff Riggenbach said the investigation is continuing and additional charges could be filed.

BCI agents and Van Wert city police officers assisted deputies at the search scene.