Stephen Chinn, Child Pornography, Ohio 2026

A local attorney has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for child pornography crimes in Columbus, Ohio.

Stephen Chinn, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced in federal court to 96 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, in May 2023, Chinn uploaded child pornography to the internet that depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct including sex acts with adults and animals.

The uploads were flagged by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

When investigators executed a search warrant in August 2023 at Chinn’s Grandview Heights residence, they discovered a desktop computer containing more than 4,000 child sexual abuse images.

Chinn was initially arrested and charged locally with Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor and Pandering Obscenity.

However, he was released on bond in that matter and later charged federally in September 2023.

Chinn pleaded guilty to federal charges in August 2024.

The case was investigated by the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Noah R. Litton represented the United States in this case.

Key facts: Defendant - Stephen Chinn; Charges - Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography; City and State - Columbus, Ohio; Date - August 2024; Sentence - 96 months in prison.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/local-attorney-sentenced-8-years-prison-child-pornography-crimes