Man Arrested In Child Sexual Exploitation Investigation

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

This morning was the successful conclusion of an extensive covert online investigation led by Detective Eric England of the Tiffin Police Department’s Criminal Division.

With the invaluable assistance of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the METRICH Task Force, the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Investigative Unit, and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was executed on January 23, 2025, at a residence in the 700 block of S. Washington St. in Tiffin, Ohio.

The investigation, which uncovered the active sharing of child sexual exploitation material through the peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol BitTorrent, has led to the arrest of 46-year-old Mick J. Okonski. Mr. Okonski admitted to downloading and sharing this disturbing material. He was arrested and held at the Seneca County Jail pending his arraignment.

Mr. Okonski is charged with Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor, a second-degree felony, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine. Additional charges may be forthcoming following the review and further analysis of the evidence recovered from the residence.

I want to express my gratitude to Detective England and the entire Tiffin Police Criminal Division for their unwavering dedication in this critical investigation. I also extend sincere thanks to the outside agencies who provided support and expertise, demonstrating the strength of our collaborative efforts in protecting our community.

The Tiffin Police Department’s commitment to the safety and well-being of children remains resolute, and we will continue to work tirelessly to hold offenders accountable.

Chief Pauly