TRUMBULL COUNTY Liberty man pleads guilty to 19 sex offenses

The defense attorney hopes his client will receive probation.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A 61-year-old Liberty Township man faces up to 26 years behind bars after pleading guilty to sex offenses.
Stanley Chalker, of Smithsonian Street, pleaded guilty Tuesday to 19 felony charges of pandering obscenities to minors.
Judge Andrew Logan told Chalker, who is free on $50,000 bond, that he will be sentenced after a background check is completed by the county adult probation department.
Court officials said the background check will take about a month to complete.
The judge also ruled that Chalker will have to register as a sexually oriented offender. Chalker will have to inform the sheriff's department of his whereabouts each year for the next 10 years, court officials said.
Chalker could receive up to 26 years in prison; however, he also is eligible for probation.
"It is our hope that Mr. Chalker receives probation," said Atty. John Large, who represents Chalker. "He is 61 years old and has no criminal record. He lost most of his hearing due to an illness he had as a child. I believe probation is appropriate."
The charges: Charles Morrow, an assistant county prosecutor, said child pornography was found on one of Chalker's home computers.
Police and prosecutors said that a fire broke out at Chalker's home Feb. 22, 2000. Police and fire officials responded and observed "material that was suspect," Morrow said. He declined to say what was found.
"A search warrant was obtained and multiple computers were seized," Morrow said. He noted that one computer contained child pornography. That computer will not be returned to Chalker, Morrow said.
Morrow said there were several other computers confiscated and no pornographic material was found on those computers. Those computers will be returned to Chalker, Morrow said.
Capt. Janet Virostek of the Liberty Township Police Department and Trooper Richard Baron of the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the case, Morrow said.