Child sex offender enters Alford pleas

Toledoan faces up to 34 years in prison

8/12/2014

A Toledo man who was convicted 12 years ago of performing live sex acts with a 14-year-old girl on an Internet pay site entered Alford pleas Monday to rape and three counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a juvenile.

Jason Thomson, 42, of 1835 Birdie Drive faces up to 34 years in prison when he is sentenced Sept. 16 by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Myron Duhart.

Judge Duhart, who found Thomson guilty, told him that as a result of his plea to the rape charge, he would be classified as a sex offender who must register his address with the sheriff in the county where he lives every 90 days for the rest of his life.

In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit to committing a crime, but acknowledges evidence is sufficient for a conviction that could result in a more severe sentence.

Jennifer Liptack-Wilson, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told the court that a search warrant was executed Nov. 21 at Thomson’s home where police found 21 child pornography videos, 122 images of child pornography on Thomson’s computer, and 41 child pornography videos on compact discs and DVDs. All of the images and videos, she said, depicted minors engaged in sexual activity.

The rape charge, she said, stems from sexual conduct Thomson forced a juvenile to engage in with him between November, 2005, and November, 2007.

In 2002, Thomson pleaded no contest and was found guilty of attempted pandering obscenity and compelling prostitution after he was arrested by Toledo police at Alpine Answering Service, a business police said sold sexually oriented merchandise, used minors in sex acts, and provided escort services.

Then-Judge Charles Doneghy sentenced him to six months at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio, six months on work release, and five years of community control. Also as part of that sentence, Thomson was required to register annually with the sheriff’s department for 10 years.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.