Polk Jackson Perry Fire Chief Pleads Not Guilty to Additional Child Exploitation Charges
ASHLAND — The chief of the Polk Jackson Perry Fire District, already facing one felony count of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, pleaded not guilty Friday to two more felonies tied to a months-long investigation into alleged crimes against children.
Brandon Mosher, 36, was first arrested on Aug. 22 following an investigation that authorities said uncovered evidence of child sexual exploitation material. On Aug. 23, he was charged with a second-degree felony count of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person.
On Friday, Mosher appeared before Ashland County Common Pleas Magistrate Emily Bates for arraignment on two additional charges filed Aug. 28: one count of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material, a fifth-degree felony.
During the arraignment, Mosher’s defense attorney, Shaun Boon, formally entered pleas of not guilty on all three charges.
“We would acknowledge receipt of the indictment, waive reading of the indictment and the penalty provisions, waive any defects in timing and service, and enter a general plea of not guilty to all three counts contained therein,” Boon said in court.
Magistrate Bates accepted the pleas and scheduled Mosher’s case for jury trial on November 18, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. A status conference is set for October 10 at 11 a.m.
Defense counsel argued for Mosher’s bond to be reduced, citing his residency in the area, family ties, and employment as a firefighter at the time of his arrest.
“Mr. Mosher is a local resident. He has good ties to the community, family ties. He was working a job as a firefighter locally at the time of his arrest,” Boon told the court. “We would ask the court to consider lowering his bond now that we know exactly what the charges are.”
However, Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Metaf urged the court not only to deny the request but to increase Mosher’s bond, pointing to the severity of the charges and the possibility of more indictments.
“We requested a $500,000 cash bond at that hearing. I believe that bond to be more appropriate,” Metaf said. “There could be more charges coming. Right now his bond is $300,000 at 10%. I think that’s pretty low given these charges and the likelihood of prison if convicted.”
Bates said the court would take the bond issue under advisement and issue a written ruling early this week.
Mosher bond remains as the case progresses. If convicted of the charges, he faces multiple years in prison, with the most serious charge carrying a potential sentence of up to eight years.
The case — State of Ohio vs. Brandon Richard Mosher (Case No. 25-CRI-137) — will continue in Ashland County Common Pleas Court.
