ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AVC News) — A Zanesville man has pleaded guilty to 22 criminal charges, including 20 counts involving child sexual abuse material, and now faces up to 161 years in prison.
Norman Scheffler pleaded guilty Friday before Muskingum County Common Pleas Judge Gerald Anderson to 20 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, all second-degree felonies, along with one count of possession of methamphetamine and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
The investigation began in February after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children referred a complaint to the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Zanesville Police Detective Sgt. Phil Michel traced the uploaded child sexual abuse material to Scheffler, leading to a search warrant at his Brighton Boulevard home on March 3.
Investigators said they found methamphetamine and a laptop that was logged into Scheffler’s account and displaying child sexual abuse material. Additional images were recovered during a forensic examination of the computer.
Assistant Prosecutor John Litle said the investigation moved from the initial referral to Scheffler’s arrest in just eight days, crediting the detective’s quick response with building a strong case.
Scheffler remains awaiting sentencing, where he could receive a maximum prison term of 161 years.
