Community service ordered for child-porn conviction

6/26/2002

A former Lucas County Children Services caseworker accused of molesting a teenage boy in Missouri was sentenced yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court for downloading child pornography on his home computer.

Judge Frederick McDonald placed Wesley D. Raber, 32, of 45 Strang Circle on community control for three years. Raber was convicted June 11 on one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented materials. Raber was a caseworker for Children Services from March, 2000, to May, 2001. Lucas County sheriff deputies searched Raber's computer this year when they were investigating allegations that he sexually abused a 13-year-old Toledo-area boy.

Authorities said Raber and the boy were traveling through the St. Louis area when the alleged incident occurred. The boy's parents reported the incident in April, 2001.

A fugitive warrant issued by St. Louis County police was served yesterday on Raber. He is being held in the county jail on the warrant for felony sodomy pending an extradition hearing in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.