Former Firefighter and Foster Parent Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Exploitation Crimes

Toledo, Ohio – Jeremy Dean Chesser, a former Springfield Township firefighter and foster parent, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on Thursday for his involvement in the exploitation of minors.

The sentence, handed down by Judge James Knepp II, will run concurrently with an existing 14-year sentence for charges in Lucas County, Ohio.

After serving his time, Chesser will be placed under lifetime supervised release. Chesser, 41, was arrested in August 2023 after a joint investigation between the FBI and local authorities. The investigation revealed that Chesser had been in possession of hundreds, if not thousands, of images depicting child pornography.

In the wake of the FBI raid on his Maumee home, Chesser reportedly admitted to committing sexual acts against multiple young children, including a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old. He also confessed to having watched pornography with minors and solicited explicit material from teen girls while posing as a teenager himself. Authorities detailed in court filings that Chesser had been engaged in these activities for over a decade. According to the FBI, Chesser had communicated with an undercover agent on Kik, a messaging app, during which he allegedly discussed explicit acts involving minors and sent nude images of children.

Investigators were able to track Chesser’s activities through his IP address logs, which were provided by Kik in response to a subpoena. In addition to his federal charges, Chesser faced multiple charges in Lucas County. His arrest led to the immediate removal of foster children from his care by Children Services, and his employment with the Springfield Township Fire Department was terminated. Chesser’s sentencing on Thursday follows his conviction on charges including Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and the Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography.

The case has drawn attention to the dangers of online child exploitation and the importance of vigilance in identifying and preventing such crimes. As Chesser faces the consequences of his actions, the case serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for efforts to protect vulnerable children from abuse and exploitation.