LISBON –A judge recently denied defense motions requesting funding for a defense expert in digital forensics and permission to file a financial affidavit under seal in a child pornography case involving a former substitute teacher.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton issued the rulings this week.

McFarland, 42, Steubenville Pike Road, Lisbon, was charged earlier this year 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.

Bickerton denied the notice requesting funding for the expert, noting that the defendant in this case was not found indigent and has retained his own counsel. She also denied the motion to file a financial disclosure under seal. McFarland’s attorney is Kiran Kavoor Mikhaiel.

A jury trial remains set at 9 a.m. Feb. 24 for McFarland, who was accused of possessing and transmitting videos depicting minors engaged in sex acts. He previously worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional for the Columbiana County Educational Service Center, but was terminated after being suspended and placed on administrative leave.

He remains out of jail on a $75,000 cash or surety bond.

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. He 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.

mgreier@mojonews.com