LISBON — The Columbiana County Grand Jury issued a 23-count felony indictment this week against a former substitute teacher and paraprofessional of the county Educational Service Center who’s accused of possessing and transmitting videos depicting minors engaged in sex acts.

John M. McFarland, 42, Steubenville Pike Road, Lisbon, was charged with five counts of second-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, 16 counts of fourth-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person and single counts of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a fifth-degree felony, and misdemeanor illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

The five second-degree felony counts stem from May 5, with the rest of the charges all occurring on May 20, according to the indictment.

McFarland was accused of allegedly possessing numerous videos depicting children being sexually assaulted and engaging in sexual activity and conduct on May 20 in Center Township and for allegedly possessing a methamphetamine pipe.

The affidavit filed in Columbiana County Municipal Court by 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 20. According to the affidavit, McFarland held positions of trust in the past, including corrections officer, drug counselor, bus driver and substitute teacher.

His $75,000 cash or surety bond set in county Municipal Court was continued with the conditions. When he previously posted the pond, he was ordered 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.

During the June meeting of the county ESC Governing Board, Superintendent Marie Williams reported that McFarland’s contract was terminated on May 22, one day after he had been suspended and placed on administrative leave, according to the meeting minutes, which are posted on the ESC website. She also said a report was filed with the state Board of Education.

According to previous published reports McFarland was hired as a paraprofessional and served as part of a classroom team until November 2024, transitioning to substitute paraeducator in January 2025. Williams had 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. When the ESC learned of the allegations against him, that’s when he was suspended and placed on leave.

Arraignment has been set for 1 p.m. Aug. 28 in county Common Pleas Court. His case has been assigned to Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton.