Lawyer: Suspect explains clothes

The judge ruled he doesn't have jurisdiction in three of the five charges.
& lt;a href=mailto:yovich@vindy.com & gt;By TIM YOVICH & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The lawyer for a Boardman man accused of pandering child pornography says his client can explain away children's clothing found in his vehicle.
Atty. George Kalafut of Youngstown said Wednesday that Jon Scott Bloyer, 43, of Sigle Lane, intended to sell the clothing at a flea market.
Bloyer appeared Wednesday in municipal court on five counts of pandering obscene material involving juveniles in sexually explicit positions.
At the request of city Prosecutor Gary Gilmartin, Judge Michael A. Bernard dismissed three of the charges against Bloyer.
Waived hearing
Bloyer waived a preliminary hearing and was bound over to the Trumbull County grand jury on the remaining two charges that each carry a maximum of eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Authorities say Bloyer downloaded the material from a computer in Girard Free Library.
Gilmartin and Kalafut said they asked that three charges be dismissed because there is no evidence that the material was copied specifically at the Girard library and so municipal court would not have jurisdiction.
What's more, Kalafut said, the material in the three dismissed charges did not depict sexual activity.
Girard police Capt. Frank Bigowsky characterized the material as "graphic," depicting girls in bondage.
Charges can be refiled
Gilmartin said the charges dismissed Wednesday can be refiled in other jurisdictions.
Bloyer is being held in the Trumbull County jail on $50,000 bond.
He faces seven similar charges in Boardman.
During searches of Bloyer's home and 1994 Ford Bronco in Boardman last Thursday, police seized children's clothing, including numerous shoes.
Kalafut said the clothing was given to Bloyer by friends to sell at flea markets that his parents visit regularly.
He said a tarp also found in his truck was going to be used to cover the clothing if it rained at the market.
Kalafut declined to explain other items found in the SUV, such as a blindfold, handcuffs and rope. Police have characterized the items as being used in sexual bondage.
Bigowsky was somewhat critical of public libraries for not being more cooperative with police because of privacy policies concerning patrons.
"You'd think they'd be more cooperative," Bigowsky said. "It held us up for a little while."
He asked that anyone with possible evidence or information involving Bloyer to contact Girard, Niles or Boardman police.
& lt;a href=mailto:yovich@vindy.com & gt;yovich@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;