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LISBON -- A jury trial remains set Oct. 3 for a Negley man accused of multiple counts of voyeurism and taking nude photographs of minors, with the defendant warned about showing up on time.
Matthew Severs, 40, Taylor Road, was supposed to be in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court for a status hearing at 9 a.m. Friday, but when he didn't show up, Judge Megan Bickerton ordered a bench warrant.
Severs then arrived later and the hearing went forward.
"You should be sitting in our county jail right now," Bickerton told Severs, warning him that he better not be late next time. "This is a one shot deal."
There was no resolution to the case at this point. Defense attorney James Wise and county Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone indicated they made arrangements for Wise to view some evidence in person that could not be transmitted.
Yacovone told the judge he gave Wise an offer Friday and they were working toward a resolution.
Severs was charged with seven counts of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony, and five counts of voyeurism, a fifth-degree felony.
All the charges stem from a time frame of Jan. 1, 2019 to Nov. 14, 2021.
The illegal use of a minor charges alleged that Severs photographed minors in a state of nudity. The voyeurism charges alleged that he invaded the privacy of a child to take pictures or video or other actions. The child was a teen.
Sheriff Brian McLaughlin previously said the case started as a complaint to the sheriff's office, with a search warrant of the house initiated on Nov. 16, 2021.
Severs remains out of jail on a bond.
mgreier@mojonews.com