OTTAWA COUNTY, Ohio — A former Walbridge police officer pleaded guilty last week to multiple child sex crime charges, including rape, in an investigation that resulted in four separate indictments.

Austin Sabo, 24, withdrew his previous plea of not guilty and pleaded guilty in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court on Friday to the following charges:

Illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance (4 counts)

Rape

Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (2 counts)

Sexual battery

Disseminating matter harmful to juveniles

Sabo's sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9.

Sabo was arrested in November 2024 after authorities said he admitted to an allegation of "exchanging nude images with a juvenile female" following a search warrant that was executed by law enforcem

See Full Page