Crime & Safety
Former Avon Fire Chief Pleads Not Guilty To Obscenity Charges
Frank Root Jr. was accused of pandering obscenity involving a minor. He was Avon's fire chief from 1990 to 2006.
LORAIN, OH — During his Thursday morning arraignment, former Avon Fire Chief Frank Root Jr. pleaded not guilty to charges of pandering obscenity involving a minor. Root was the city's fire chief from 1990 to 2006.
Root was indicted last month by a Lorain County grand jury. Investigation into the former fire chief was started by the Lorain County prosecutor's office and then continued by Avon police.
Root turned himself into police on Oct. 22. He will next appear in court on Jan. 8, 2020, when he has a pre-trial hearing, according to News 5.
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It is not yet clear what evidence prosecutors have against Root. Avon police said the complaint was sent directly to their investigators.
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