Butler man arrested on pandering charge

A 67-year-old man was arrested Thursday on a charge of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.

Richard Darr, of 7356 Armstrong Road, was taken to the Richland County Jail after authorities searched his residence.

“He was allegedly downloading photographs of juveniles involved in pornographic activities,” METRICH Sgt. Chad Brubaker said.

While searching Darr’s residence, authorities confiscated several computers. Brubaker said Darr has no prior record.

Brubaker said Darr could face additional charges once the case is presented to the prosecutor’s office. Pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to eight years in prison.

The Mansfield Police Department’s Internet crimes unit collaborated on the case with METRICH and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.

“We have a detective (Todd Vanausdle) that focuses on crimes against children,” Brubaker said. Vanausdle received training from the Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

“He has a computer set up to look for child pornography that’s being pandered on the Internet,” Brubaker said.

Mansfield police Chief Ken Coontz said his department would continue to pursue aggressively crimes against children.

Originally published in the News Journal on February 27, 2015.