AVON, Ohio — Former Avon Fire Chief Frank Root Junior has been charged with pandering sexual oriented material involving a minor, a fourth degree felony, according to court records. Investigators said Root turned himself into Avon police headquarters Tuesday morning.
Root was arraigned on the charge just a few hours later in Avon Lake Municipal Court. He pleaded not guilty during the arraignment.
Police are not yet releasing what evidence they've obtained to warrant the charge.
The Avon Police Department began the investigation into Root after a complaint was forwarded from the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office in July.
Root was the Avon fire Chief until 2006, when his son, Frank Root III was made the new fire Chief.
Root's next court date is scheduled for Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m.
