A former Republic candidate for state Senate and Toledo City Council has been indicted on charges related to possessing child pornography.

A Lucas County grand jury on Thursday indicted Ernest D. McCarthy, 83, of East Toledo on nine counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, seven counts of illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, and four counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person.

All 20 charges are second-degree felonies.

According to police records, the charges stem from an investigation launched after Toledo police received a tip in October, 2022.

Mr. McCarthy was arrested Oct. 30 on a single count of pandering obscenity involving a minor and booked into the Lucas County jail. According to t

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