McARTHUR, Ohio — A previously convicted sex offender from Vinton County has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to child pornography and obscenity, including the use of computer-generated content, authorities said.
Cody L. Prater, 27, of McArthur, faces charges of receiving and possessing child pornography and obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, as well as transporting obscene materials, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday.
The indictment alleges that between August 2023 and July 2024, Prater committed multiple child pornography and obscenity offenses. Prosecutors say he attempted to conceal his activities by using a computer operating system designed to leave no trace of internet activity on connected devices.
Authorities allege Prater received child pornography depicting infants and toddlers subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse. He is also accused of receiving computer-generated images of minors engaged in bestiality, sex acts with adults, and sadistic and masochistic abuse, as well as possessing online depictions of child mutilation and torture.
If convicted, Prater could face up to 40 years in prison.
The charges were announced by Kelly A. Norris, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Detroit field office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Tyler Aagard are prosecuting the case.
Prater, who was previously convicted of a sex offense, is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
An indictment is only an allegation and not evidence of guilt. The case remains under investigation.