LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — A Springfield Township firefighter, paramedic and advocate for foster parenting was arrested Wednesday after a federal investigation into allegations of child sex crimes.
Jeremy Chesser, of Maumee, is charged with receiving and distributing child pornography, according to a criminal complaint Wednesday from the U.S. District Court of Northern Ohio. He is being held in the Lucas County Jail.
He also admitted to committing sexual acts against children as young as two years old.
"Hundreds, 1,000 images of what appeared to be child pornography," were found on Chesser's phone by authorities, according to the court document.
The charge stems from crimes that occurred from January 2022 to Aug. 27, 2023. Chesser used the messaging app Kik to send sexually explicit messages to other users, including describing sexual activities he said he was doing with the minors as he was sending the message.
Since Aug. 7, Chesser had been talking on Kik with an FBI New Haven Online Certified Employee posing as a parent on the app. Chesser told the FBI employee that he wanted to have sex with the employee's 12-year-old daughter.
In an interview with authorities, Chesser said he posed as a minor online to convince other minors to send him pornography of themselves.
Chesser is the father of 10 children, several of whom are foster children.
Lucas County Children Services said all of Chesser's foster children are being removed from the home. LCCS is also working with law enforcement on the case.
Authorities conducted a search warrant at Chesser's home Wednesday and arrested him without incident.
Chesser was on unpaid administrative leave as of Wednesday afternoon, Springfield Township Fire Chief Barry Cousino said in a statement to WTOL 11. He was terminated Friday, according to a statement sent by the department Saturday morning.
On Thursday the chief released a statement to the community:
"As the recent events of the past 24 hours have unfolded our department has remained vigilant and unwavering in our commitment to serve and protect each one of you. This event can not go unrecognized, however the legal rights and proceedings of the accused must be honored and WILL be followed by Springfield Township according to Ohio Law.
"The alleged actions of one person does not represent the personnel of the department, or the mission statement of which we were founded upon. Our leadership team is working tirelessly to ensure our employees have the help that they need to get through this trying time. By taking care of our employees we are continuing our solemn vow to the community to be there for you in your greatest time of need.
"We ask for patience from you as the legal proceedings take place, and understand we are looking into every possibility to ensure this incident did not affect anyone in our community in anyway."
For further information please contact:
Springfield Township Administrator: Michael Hampton II
mhampton@springfieldtownship.net
Fire Chief: Barry Cousino
barry.cousino@springfieldfire.com
WTOL 11 received Chesser's Springfield Township Fire Department file Friday morning. According to the file, Chesser was hired part time in July 2013 where he worked until 2014. In October 2014, a disciplinary form was filed because he was late to work after oversleeping.
Chesser worked for other fire and rescue departments before returning to Springfield Twp. fire in 2020. He was in "good standing" with the department as of December 2020 and received "good remarks" during a yearly evaluation.
Chesser's file stated Springfield Twp. Fire provided a character evaluation to Lucas County Children Services regarding an application to foster a child in September 2017.
The file also indicated Chesser had previously worked for the city of Maumee, Spencer Township Fire Department and Swanton Fire Department.
FBI investigators said anyone with more information on this case should contact FBI Toledo at 419-243-6122.