Chardon Man Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges
Chardon resident Ken Chuha pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material in the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas March 11.
Chardon resident Ken Chuha pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material in the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas March 11.
Chuha, 69, had been charged with pandering sexually oriented content involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony; three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material, fifth-degree felonies; and one count of possessing criminal tools, also a fifth-degree felony.
He originally pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 11.
As a result of his guilty plea, the state agreed to dismiss the pandering charge, one count of the illegal use of a minor and the possessing criminal tools charge, and will recommend a residential community control sanction, according to the agreement, filed in the court docket March 11.
Items listed in a specification to count five, possession of criminal tools, will also be willingly forfeited.
The state and defense do not currently have an agreement on a sentence, however, according to the document, the consecutive maximum penalty would be a 24-month prison term and a $5,000 fine.
Chuha will also be classified as a Tier I sex offender, requiring in-person registration with the sheriff for a period of 15 years and prohibition from living within 1,000 feet of a school or childcare facility.
Chuha’s current home on Goodrich Court violates the latter requirement, so, upon sentencing, he will no longer be allowed to reside there.
In the event Chuha is sentenced to prison, after being released, he will face five years of mandatory post-release control, according to the agreement.
Chuha originally pleaded not guilty at his Dec. 11 arraignment.
In August of 2024, a search warrant was executed at Chuha’s home following a referral from the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz’s office about suspected accessing of child sexual abuse materials at a Chardon residence.
An indictment filed Nov. 19 lists video cameras, a computer tower, a hard drive and SD cards as property subject to criminal forfeiture.
Chuha is scheduled for sentencing in front of Judge Matt Rambo May 20 and the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas.
