Dennis Stopar, a 65-year-old resident of Flushing, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to charges related to child exploitation. The plea was entered in U.S. District Court and involves a recommended prison sentence ranging from 30 to 60 years.
Court documents reveal that between 2022 and 2023, Stopar engaged in the sexual assault of multiple female minors and coerced a male minor into sexual activity with another child. He also produced numerous videos and images documenting these acts.
The investigation began in December 2023 when Dropbox, Inc. alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about child pornography uploaded to an account linked to Stopar's IP address. A search warrant executed by Belmont County Sheriff’s Office deputies led to the seizure of his electronic devices, which were later processed under a federal warrant resulting in federal charges filed in April 2024.
Stopar is a convicted sex offender with a previous rape conviction involving abuse of a victim from ages six to sixteen.
The announcement of the guilty plea was made by Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge at the FBI Cincinnati Division; and Belmont County Sheriff David L. Lucas. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer M. Rausch before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.