Van Wert County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

TOLEDO – John Charles Coy, 72, of Van Wert County, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, October 20, 2022, to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp II after Coy pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, in November 2020, local, state and federal law enforcement authorities began an investigation into Coy after receiving information that Coy, a long-time softball coach of minors in Marion County, may have been involved in sexual conduct involving several minors. 

As a result of the investigation, authorities discovered that Coy possessed child pornography.  On July 26, 2021, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Coy’s residence in Van Wert County.  During the search, authorities seized a cell phone belonging to Coy.  Further investigation revealed that Coy had saved images of child pornography to his cloud account for his cell phone, including of a minor under the age of twelve.

This case was investigated by the Toledo Division of the FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and Marion Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey B. Tangeman.