Two OU employees involved in child pornography crimes

Two cases of child pornography are being heard in Athens courts, both involving Ohio University faculty members.Jeffrey Shira, an application support representative for Ohio University’s Office of Information Technology, was charged last month with 10 counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, which is a fancy way of saying he was in possession of child pornography.His arrest followed an investigation after two USB flash drives containing pornographic images were discovered after being inadvertently included with a donation to a church, according to an Athens County Sheriff’s Office news release.The news release also states a search warrant was executed at Shira’s residence where a “large amount” of child pornography was allegedly found; computers, hard drives, storage devices and other items were seized.Court documents show the charges are felonies of the second degree, meaning they must be heard in common pleas court.The case must either be presented to a grand jury or be determined through a bill of information, a written statement that accuses a person of a crime, also known as a complaint.According to the news release Shira was taken to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail and held under a $100,000 bond.Although no further court dates have been set, according to court records, Judge Pat Lang will be presiding.Another child pornography case started when the Athens Police Department was notified of someone downloading child pornography on the Ohio University network in September 2013.The investigation started when Franklin County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force shared information with the APD about videos being downloaded on OU’s network, allegedly showing children engaging in sexual intercourse with adult males.Now, more than a year later, the OU business professor with 21 charges against him for possessing the pornography is still going through the motions of court. In his most recent visit to court, Athens County Common Pleas Court Judge George McCarthy denied a motion to suppress evidence.According to court records, Amol T. Kharabe was indicted last January on nine counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and one count each of pandering obscenity, illegal use of minor in nudity-oriented material and possessing criminal tools.In April, he was indicted on another nine counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor. However, because he was charged the same way twice, he can only be convicted on one or the other, but not both.Kharabe’s final pre-trial hearing is set for May 11, with his jury trial set to start on Aug. 11.