By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com

The 35-year-old man facing more than six dozen counts involving child pornography will be going to trial in May. Galion resident Marcus Williams turned down a final offer from the County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday and will proceed to trial.

Assistant County Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler confirmed for Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold that regardless of what happens, should there be a conviction, the prosecution will argue sentencing and no further offers of a recommended sentence will be forthcoming.

Williams’ bond was set by Leuthold at $2.5 million when he was arraigned in November on 80 counts of pandering sexually oriented materials involving a minor. Each count is a fourth-degree felony and each carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.

In addition, Williams is facing three charges from another case. Those are fourth-degree importuning which carries a maximum prison sentence of 18 months; fifth-degree disseminating materials harmful to juveniles which carries a maximum sentence of 12 months; and fifth-degree possession of criminal tools which also is punishable by a maximum of 12 months in prison.

The charges in the two cases have a combined total of 123.5 years maximum prison time.

The judge set April 15 as the deadline for Williams’ attorney, Scott Merganthaler, to file defense motions to separate the cases as well as any motions for suppression he deems necessary.

Hoovler is under the same deadline to file a prosecution motion to consolidate the cases.

Leuthold said should the cases be separated, Williams will first go to trial on the three-count case, followed by the one involving 80 counts.

The judge emphasized that regardless Williams will go to trial May 24.

“I pride myself on making sure justice is swift,” Leuthold said. “We are going to trial May 24.”

Leuthold told both attorneys not to expect any more continuances.

Williams was arrested as a result of an investigation by an FBI task force.

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