HAMILTON — A Middletown man pleaded no contest Friday to 15 criminal charges involving sexually explicit photos of children.

        The charges against Timothy O'Connor, 55, of Middletown, stem from hundreds of photographs police confiscated from his home computer last year. The photos showed children, from 4 to 12 years old, performing sexual acts with adults and with each other.

        Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said the case illustrates why his office is determined to fight pornography: “When I first saw these photographs, I couldn't sleep at night. They're utterly disgusting.”

        Common Pleas Judge Patricia Oney found Mr. O'Connor guilty of six counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, four counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, four counts of pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor and one count of receiving stolen property.

        Judge Oney ordered Mr. O'Connor to undergo a psychological evaluation before an Aug. 6 hearing to determine whether he's a sexual predator.

        After that, Judge Oney will sentence him to from two to eight years in prison.

        Mr. Piper asked the judge incarcerate Mr. O'Connor on Friday, but Judge Oney allowed him to remain free on $50,000 bond.

        Mr. O'Connor entered the no contest plea in exchange for the prosecution's promise not to file more charges based on the photographs, said his attorney, Paris Ellis.

        Mr. Piper, who was elected prosecutor last November, is creating a task force to prosecute pornography cases. Last month, the county commissioners allocated $120,000 for it.

        The O'Connor case shows why it's important to take an aggressive stance against obscenity, Mr. Piper said.

        “These photos are the type of things that are out there being bought and sold and traded by pedophiles,” he said. “These photos are demanded by depraved minds.”

        The photos were discovered when Mr. O'Connor took his computer to a shop for repairs.

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