MANSFIELD, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A motion to suppress hearing was held July 15 in Richland County Common Pleas Court in the case of Sara Westmoreland, 32, who faces 47 felony counts related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Westmoreland is charged with 46 counts of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material and one count of gross sexual imposition.
Her co-defendant, Brandon Crosby, 35, faces 94 related counts in the same investigation.
During the hearing, defense attorney Josh Brown filed motions to exclude evidence, specifically challenging the seizure of Westmoreland’s cellphone and a subsequent interview she gave to a Richland County Sheriff’s Office detective.
The defense contends that law enforcement seized the device without a warrant and failed to provide Miranda warnings during Westmoreland’s interview at the sheriff’s office.
Testimony was provided by Detective Garrett Nedrow, a liaison with the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, who detailed the initial investigation and the circumstances surrounding the collection of evidence. Assistant Prosecutor Nik Buckmeier argued the state’s position, noting that Westmoreland was not in custody during the interview.
The hearing was paused because of the court’s existing docket and is scheduled to resume in August.
Westmoreland’s trial is currently scheduled to begin Aug. 20. Both Westmoreland and Crosby remain in the county jail on $2 million bond.