TOLEDO, Ohio — A Toledo man who ran for office multiple times as a Lucas County Republican Party-endorsed candidate has been sentenced to 20 to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to 15 second-degree felony charges involving child sexual abuse material.

Ernest McCarthy, 84, was sentenced Feb. 26 by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Stacy Cook, who addressed what she described as the “horrific nature of the digital images” found on McCarthy’s device — including images involving children as young as 2 years old.

McCarthy pleaded guilty to nine counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, four counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material. He initially entered a not guilty plea before changing it on Feb. 12.

The charges stem from a Toledo Police Department investigation into McCarthy reproducing child sexual abuse material, according to the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office.

During the investigation, McCarthy was served a search warrant and confirmed to a detective, in what was described as a “very matter-of-fact manner,” that child sexual abuse material would be found on his computer.

McCarthy will be classified as a Tier II sex offender and required to register for 25 years.

In a pleading memorandum, McCarthy’s attorney requested consideration of his client’s age and claimed that McCarthy’s life had taken “a dark turn” over the past decade, citing factors including Vietnam War service, PTSD, health issues, and the death of his wife. The attorney said the crimes began with adult pornography before escalating in November 2024, which led to law enforcement attention.

A Republican Party fixture in Lucas County

McCarthy was a repeat Republican candidate in northwest Ohio politics. He ran for Ohio State Senate District 11 as a Republican in both 2018 and 2014, losing to Democratic incumbents Teresa Fedor and Edna Brown, respectively. He also ran unsuccessfully for Toledo City Council multiple times as a Lucas County Republican Party-endorsed candidate.

In 2017, the Lucas County Republican Party nominated McCarthy for a seat on the Lucas County Board of Elections. Then-Secretary of State Jon Husted — now a U.S. senator — rejected the appointment.

The Board of Elections appointment came during a period of turmoil at the Lucas County board, which saw Husted suspend and ultimately remove Republican board member James Hartley for attempting to install candidates Husted deemed unfit or unqualified.

“These crimes exploit the most vulnerable members of Lucas County,” Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates said. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the harm caused and sends a clear message that those who possess and reproduce this material will be held accountable.”

Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Effler of the Special Victims Unit led the case for the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office.