Trending
LISBON -- A Columbiana man accused of 65 criminal counts related to his alleged possession of child pornography was ordered evaluated for competency and sanity.
Dustin Chapman, 41, Union Street, appeared before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton during a status hearing Friday. After hearing from attorneys for both sides, she agreed to have him evaluated by the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio on whether he's competent to stand trial or plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
Chapman was recently indicted for 40 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person and 25 counts of pandering sexually oriented matters involving a minor or impaired person, both fourth-degree felonies. The charges all stem from May 15, 2023 to July 27, 2023 when he allegedly possessed child pornography.
His defense attorney, Paul Conn, filed the motions and told the judge he was informed by family members that the defendant has severe mental health issues.
County Assistant Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jones said she had no objection to the evaluations.
Bickerton explained to the defendant the process for the evaluations. A new status hearing will be set at a later date.