Wooster man indicted for sexually exploiting children

A Wooster man was charged with sexually exploiting children, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

Eric W. Beard, 26,  induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct in December 2017  for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, according to the indictment.

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.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by Task Force Officer Bryan Allen, the FBI Task Force and the Wooster Police Department.  

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.