Staff report

LISBON — A Hanoverton man charged with multiple felony counts related to child porn and sex for hire was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison during a recent sentencing hearing.

Jay Thomas Kelly, 59, state Route 518, appeared before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton on Friday to face his punishment for compelling prostitution, a third-degree felony, importuning, a fifth-degree felony, and nine counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony.

Charges of possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, 12 counts of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in a nudity-oriented material or performance, a fifth-degree felony, and soliciting, a misdemeanor, were dismissed.

Bickerton issued terms of 24 months and six months for the compelling prostitution and importuning, but ordered them served at the same time, then ordered terms of 12 months on each of the pandering charges, with some to be served at the same time, but consecutive to the other terms and some served consecutive to each other.

When all was said and done, the prison sentence totaled 96 months, or eight years, with credit for 15 days already served.

Kelly was initially arrested on June 22, 2021 when he responded to East Palestine with his phone and money after arranging to meet an undercover Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force agent for sexual conduct in exchange for cash. The agent was posing online as a 38-year-old female, 18-year-old female and 15-year-old female.

During the course of the investigation, agents learned Kelly may have child pornography at his home, with a search warrant executed June 23, 2021 and electronic equipment seized, leading to the pandering obscenity charges.