Massillon man pleads innocent to sex charges

When he was arrested, the defendant said he was taking the children to visit their biological parents.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

CORTLAND — A Massillon man accused of masturbating in a car while three foster children were restrained in the back seat pleaded innocent Monday to sex-related charges.

Michael Riley, 56, who was transporting the children for a Christian-based agency, entered the plea in Trumbull County Central District Court to three counts of disseminating harmful materials to a juvenile and one count of public indecency.

Judge Thomas Campbell set bond at a total $18,000. Riley remains in the county jail.

According to a Ohio State Highway Patrol report, a truck driver noticed the driver of maroon Chevrolet masturbating in the front seat late Friday morning as the car traveled north on state Route 11. Three children were in the back seat.

Patrol Sgt. Marvin Hill reported he was in Ashtabula County when he heard the call go out and drove south on Route 11.

Hill reported pulling the car over about 11:30 a.m.

Sean O’Brien, an assistant county prosecutor, said the two girls and a boy were all 5 or younger. Two are a brother and sister and the third is from a different family.

O’Brien said the children were in restraint seats.

Hill reported Riley telling him that he worked for the Bair Foundation in Kent. He was transporting the children to Lake County Children Services so they could visit with their biological parents. The children were picked up in Minerva and New Waterford.

Hill said Riley denied masturbating in the car, but the truck driver later identified him as the man he saw in the front seat, officials said.

O’Brien said that since the children were in their restraints, they most likely didn’t see what Riley was doing.

The prosecutor expressed gratitude to the truck driver for reporting what he had seen.

According to its Web site, Bair has been in the foster-care business since 1967. It’s based in New Wilmington, Pa..

The foundation, the site says, operates in seven states. It provides therapeutic services to children in foster/kinship homes as an alternative to residential care.

The foundation serves neglected and delinquent children from birth to 18 who are hard to place, emotionally disturbed, developmentally delayed or medically fragile, and who require the care of specially trained foster families.

The agency in Kent did not return a phone message seeking comment. A message left at the national headquarters in New Wilmington also was not returned.

Matthew Battiato, director of Lake County Children Services, said Riley regularly dropped children off at the agency for Bair and has had no problem with his agency.

O’Brien said Riley has worked for Bair for 14 years.

Battiato said Children Services is cooperating with authorities in the investigation and has taken steps to protect the children.

O’Brien said the charge of disseminating harmful material does not necessarily mean pornographic material was used, but the charge also may include actions or words.

yovich@vindy.com