An Elyria man who pleaded guilty to 24 felony charges involving sexually explicit material depicting minors will not serve time in jail.
Austin Baker, 23, of Elyria, was sentenced March 6 in Lorain County Common Pleas Court after entering a guilty plea in the case.
Baker had been charged with 24 felony counts tied to sexually explicit material involving minors. The charges included multiple counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and pandering obscenity involving a minor.
Despite the number of charges, the court did not impose a prison sentence. Instead, Baker was ordered to serve three years of community control, also known as probation.
The case began after an investigation by the Elyria Police Department. Authorities reported that illegal images involving child sexual abuse and animal sexual abuse were discovered on electronic devices connected to Baker. Police later searched his residence as part of the investigation.
The discovery of those images led to the felony charges filed against him.
As part of the sentence, the court also classified Baker as a Tier II sex offender. Under Ohio law, that classification requires him to register his address with the sheriff and verify it every 180 days for 25 years.
While on community control, Baker must follow conditions set by the court and probation department. These can include counseling, treatment, and other requirements while under supervision.
If Baker violates the terms of his probation, the court could impose prison time related to the charges in the case.