News
More Charges Filed Against OU Professor In Child Porn Case
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
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An Ohio University professor already facing charges of pandering obscenity involving a minor has been indicted on further charges, according to court documents.
Amol T. Kharabe, 41, of Dublin, was arrested in February on a warrant for nine counts of pandering obscenity, one count of illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material or performance and one count of possessing criminal tools, all felony charges.
But now the business professor is facing nine more counts, all for fourth-degree felony pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor.
Kharabe, who is set to appear in court Tuesday morning for a pre-trial conference, allegedly used a computer at his Richland Avenue apartment to house "videos containing minor children involved in sexual situations," according to previous reporting by The Athens Messenger.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said the additional charges are connected to the same offenses for which Kharabe was initially charged, but may be the ones that eventually stick.
"The charges allege an alternative theory on the same activity," Blackburn said.
The theory involves a part of law in which it is not clear the level of obscenity in pornography, but it is clear that obscenity is present.
In the superseding indictment, Kharabe is charged with knowingly having material "that shows a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity, masturbation, or beastiality," the document stated.
The pandering obscenity involving a minor charge, a second-degree felony, accused Kharabe of creating, reproducing or publishing "obscene material that has a minor as one of its participants or portrayed observers," according to court documents.
A final pre-trial in the case is scheduled for June and a trial is scheduled for July.