Rebecca C. Lutzko United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio
A Lucas County man previously convicted of raping children was sentenced on Apr. 6 to 20 years in federal prison after hundreds of child sexual abuse material files were found on his computer.
Paul A. Speer, age 56, of Toledo, Ohio, received a sentence of 240 months from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick after pleading guilty in November 2025 to receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, Speer was ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release and pay $3,000 in restitution to victims as well as $2,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act.
Court documents state that staff at a Best Buy store in Toledo contacted police in December 2024 after discovering suspected illegal material on a desktop computer brought in by Speer for repair. Authorities executed a search warrant and forensic analysis uncovered more than 570 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse—including toddlers being raped or molested and other graphic content involving prepubescent children and bestiality. During the investigation, agents also found that Speer had been convicted in November 2000 on three counts of rape involving children under age thirteen.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Toledo Resident Agency along with the Toledo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices designed to combat online child exploitation through coordinated federal, state, and local efforts focused on apprehending offenders and rescuing victims.
Reports of suspected child exploitation can be made at cybertipline.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678 at any time.
