LISBON — A former paraprofessional of the Columbiana County Educational Service Center charged with transmitting videos depicting minors engaged in sexual conduct will have his case heard by the county grand jury.

John Maramon McFarland, 42, Steubenville Pike Road, Lisbon, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday in county Municipal Court before Judge Tim McNicol, with his case bound over for consideration by the grand jury.

Charges against him include second-degree felony pandering obscenity-create, produce, publish materials for commercial exploitation, fourth-degree felony pandering obscenity-buy, procure, possess obscene material, and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia. He was accused of allegedly possessing numerous videos depicting children being sexually assaulted and engaging in sexual activity and conduct on May 21 in Center Township and possessing a methamphetamine pipe.

The affidavit from an agent with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force said that McFarland allegedly transmitted a video depicting a young minor male engaging in sexual conduct via a social media platform on Oct. 10, 2022. On May 5 this year, he allegedly transmitted via email nine videos depicting minors engaging in sexual activity, besides being in possession of the videos on May 21. According to the affidavit, McFarland held positions of trust in the past, including corrections officer, drug counselor, bus driver and substitute teacher.

He’s out of jail after posting a $75,000 cash or surety bond and was ordered as a condition of bond to have no contact by any means with any minors, to have no electronic devices capable of accessing the Internet and to have no firearms.

When his arrest initially occurred, ESC Superintendent Marie Williams issued a statement to news partner WKBN, saying McFarland was hired as a paraprofessional and served as part of a classroom team until November 2024, transitioning to substitute paraeducator in January 2025. She said he worked in ESC unit classrooms staffed by ESC teachers and staff in Salem City Schools at Reilly Elementary, the ESC unit at Knox Elementary and the ESC Opportunity School. She said he also subbed once in Leetonia, a few times at Salem Southeast and once at Salem Buckeye. She said he was not left alone with students and completed all the required background checks. He had not subbed since May 2 and was suspended and placed on administrative leave on May 21 when the ESC learned of the allegations.