Wood County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse Charges

TOLEDO, Ohio - A 49-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving and distributing files depicting the sexual abuse of children throughout a nearly seven-year period.

Brian C. Sargent, of Bowling Green, Ohio, pleaded guilty to Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM).

According to court documents, in July 2025 agents were conducting an investigation to identify offenders sharing CSAM on a peer-to-peer platform and Sargent was identified as a suspect. In August 2025, a search warrant was executed at his residence and agents seized his personal laptop. During a forensic analysis, almost 700 CSAM files were located that depicted minors engaged in sex acts and bondage. Sargent's cellphone was also seized, and it contained similar material. The investigation revealed that he had been receiving and distributing CSAM from November 2018 to August 2025. During the time period in which these offenses occurred, Sargent was employed with the Ohio Investigative Unit which enforces laws regarding alcohol, tobacco, and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

Sargent is scheduled to be sentenced July 22 and faces a minimum of five-and up to 20-years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the United States Secret Service and members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio leads the prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.

To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.orgLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.