A man accused of possessing images of child pornography is trying to get the evidence from his cell phone thrown out.

Vincent John Bianconi, 35, last known address Chicago Heights, Ill., had a motion to suppress filed on his behalf for all evidence obtained from the seizure of his phone when he showed up in East Palestine for a sex-for-hire meeting on July 4, 2024.

An evidentiary hearing was rescheduled for 1 p.m. June 11 after his defense attorney, Tod Brininger, requested a continuance and additional discovery for evidence he claimed he hasn’t received.

Charges against Bianconi include three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a fourth-degree felony, and misdemeanors of engaging in prostitution and possessing criminal tools.

Bianconi was accused of allegedly responding to an undercover ad placed by an agent on a known prostitution website and requesting a woman meet him in his semi truck for sex acts in exchange for $30, arriving at the meeting location in East Palestine on July 4, 2024 in his semi truck wearing only a robe. In his possession was $50 and the cell phone used to make the arrangements, which was seized. An agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force also recovered images of minor children engaged in sexual acts.

The defense motion to suppress alleged that the phone was seized without a warrant and that the search was pursuant to a warrant issued four days later. The motion alleged that the affidavit supporting the search warrant contained a false statement related to the allegation that three printed images of Child Sex Abuse Material were found on the back of the phone, allegedly rendering the warrant invalid and all the resulting evidence inadmissable.

The motion claimed the seizure of the phone violated Bianconi’s rights and that the affidavit was false, with Bianconi denying that three printed images of CSAM were on the back of his phone. He claimed he doesn’t have a printer and doesn’t know how to print from his cell phone.

No trial date has been set in the case, which is in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam.

mgreier@mojonews.com