A man who drove from Akron to meet a 15-year-old Mansfield girl could spend nine years in prison.
Police intervened and arrested Dustin Eugene McCoy, 38, before he reached the girl, according to Richland County Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher.
“The reporting person had picked up on this and had made the call to law enforcement,” Schumacher said.
McCoy faces three counts of fourth-degree felony pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, four counts of fifth-degree felony illegal use of a minor or impaired person in a nudity-oriented material or performance, two counts of fifth-degree felony disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and one count of misdemeanor grooming.
Ohio Grooming Offenses Act
Investigators believe McCoy gradually prepared the girl for exploitation, a tactic commonly known as grooming.
“Communications had been occurring over online, social-media-type resources between the two individuals,” Schumacher said.
The case is the first time Richland County has prosecuted someone using the Ohio Grooming Offenses Act, which became law April 9, 2025.
“It’s an important charge,” Schumacher said. “I’m glad to see the legislature recognized it and enacted it.”
The law is designed to prevent adults from coercing children into sexual behavior.
“Now that the legislature has given us this law, we’re able to recognize that criminal conduct early on,” Schumacher said. “Prior to, hopefully, more serious offenses occurring.”
Images found on man’s phone
After police arrested McCoy, they discovered he had nude photos of the girl on his phone.
“There’s some overlap in some of the images,” Schumacher said. “Based on what’s portrayed in the images, there would be a performance — what we would legally deem to be a performance.”
The performative aspect of those images led to additional charges.
Should he be convicted of all charges, McCoy would be labeled a tier-two sex offender, which carries a 25-year reporting requirement.
A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
Contact Zach Tuggle at 419-564-3508. Follow him on X at @zachtuggle.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Akron man first to be charged in Richland Co. on new anti-grooming law
Reporting by Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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By Zach Tuggle, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
