COLUMBUS POLICE SERGEANT INDICTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

Posted on 7/25/2018

Defendant: Dean P. Worthington

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This Columbus Police Sergeant was downloading child pornography to his personal cell phone.  This illegal behavior was discovered as a result of a tip Tumblr provided to law enforcement after Worthington uploaded an image of child pornography.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has indicted Dean P. Worthington, age 51, for one count of Illegal Use of Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material or Performance (F-2), one count of Pandering Sexually-Oriented Matter Involving a Minor (F-2), and two counts of Pandering Sexually-Oriented Matter Involving a Minor (F-4), for a total of four counts.  Worthington was the Public Information Officer for the Columbus Police at the time of the offenses and has been relieved of his assignment.  “Between January and July of 2018, it is alleged that Worthington uploaded an image to Tumblr and downloaded multiple videos and images depicting young children engaging in sexual activity with adults,” O’Brien stated.  O’Brien commended the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their involvement and investigation of this case.  A warrant was issued for Worthington’s arrest and he will be arraigned at a later date.