PEORIA, Ill. – A former public official in Stark County will go to prison for 35 years after he pleaded guilty to child pornography-related charges, even though he also tried to take that plea back.
A federal judge in Peoria Wednesday sentenced Jason Musselman, 35, to that time in prison for Production of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography.
Prosecutors referred to the now-former Toulon alderman, firefighter, and Stark County Emergency Services Director as a “long-time producer and collector” of child porn, while pretending to be a trusted community member.
Musselman was arrested in January, 2022 on state charges, but faced federal charges two months later.
25 News reports after entering the guilty plea, Musselman tried to withdraw it — saying at the time his conduct related to one of the counts amounted to “nothing more than an attempt to capture mere nudity.”
Victims speaking in court talked of being traumatized by Musselman’s actions.
