Three Ohio men were indicted on federal charges related to the production or possession of child pornography, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The cases are not related.

A grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging John Clements, 32, of Willoughby, with receiving and distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and with possessing child pornography.

Bradley D. Dawson, 27, of Canton, was charged with producing, receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The indictment charges that from on or about May 1, 2015, through on or about June 21, 2015, Dawson knowingly received and distributed, by computer, numerous computer files, which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On June 22, 2015, images of child pornography were also found on his RCA Tablet. The indictment also charges that in or around May 2015, Dawson used, persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced a four-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, and such visual depiction was produced or transmitted using materials that had been mailed, shipped, or transported in or affecting interstate commerce by any means, including by computer.

Joshua M. Buss, 26, of Spencer, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The indictment charges that from on or about December 29, 2014, through on or about June 23, 2015, in the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, Buss knowingly received and distributed, using any means and facility of interstate and foreign commerce, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and which files had been shipped and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. The indictment also charges that on June 24, 2015, Buss possessed a computer that contained child pornography.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The Clements case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough following an investigation by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.

The Dawson case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Canton Office.

The Buss case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following ann investigation by the Akron Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.