COLUMBUS, OH – James A. Sabolick, 58, of Lower Salem, Ohio, will spend the next 25 years of his life behind bars after being sentenced in federal court today for a depraved scheme to exploit children both in the United States and internationally. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., reflects the gravity of Sabolick’s crimes, which included horrific abuse and the purchase of child pornography.
The investigation began on July 24, 2021, when Marietta police officers pulled over Sabolick’s vehicle. He was attempting to hide a minor female in the backseat. What followed was a descent into a nightmare of abuse. The Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force quickly uncovered that Sabolick had transported the girl, originally from West Virginia, to a hunting cabin in Washington County where he subjected her to a litany of sexual acts. The abuse wasn’t merely sexual; investigators discovered evidence of needle pokes, lighter burns, restraints, strangulation, and even urination inflicted upon the victim.
Evidence recovered from Sabolick’s cabin and vehicle painted a disturbing picture: panty hose, lubricant, and a box of t-pins were among the items seized. He meticulously photographed the abuse, creating a permanent record of his crimes. Court documents reveal Sabolick had been grooming the victim since she was approximately 13 or 14 years old, possessing numerous nude images and communications on his phone.
But Sabolick’s depravity didn’t stop at the state line. A forensic review of his electronic devices exposed a chilling international connection. Sabolick had maintained contact with Filipino women he’d met during previous trips in 2013 and 2014. He offered them money for basic living expenses – food, utilities, tuition – in exchange for sexually explicit images of their minor children. Financial records revealed over $1,000 sent to the Philippines via Paypal, Western Union, Xoom, and Moneygram, often coinciding with requests for child pornography.
“We are dedicated to working across all levels of law enforcement to hold people accountable for their crimes, no matter where they exploit their victims,” stated U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Our priority is putting perpetrators like Sabolick behind bars for significant periods of time so that they can no longer prey on the vulnerable. The sentence imposed today does just that.” Sabolick pleaded guilty in January 2024 to two counts of sexually exploiting a minor and one count of possessing child pornography.
The case was a joint effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marietta Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and S. Courter Shimeall prosecuted the case, with support from the Southeastern Ohio and Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Forces, operating under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. The investigation serves as a grim reminder of the pervasive nature of child exploitation and the tireless work of law enforcement to bring predators like Sabolick to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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