Federal agents arrest Highland County man for sexual exploitation crimes

CINCINNATI - A Highland County man was arrested today and is charged federally with sexually exploiting minors from California, Texas and Michigan. Mark A. Chandler, 37, of Mount Orab, Ohio, appeared in federal court in Cincinnati this afternoon. He faces charges of sexual exploitation of children, coercion and enticement, and receipt of child pornography.

According to charging documents, the Highland County Sheriff's Office received a tip regarding Chandler in November 2025. The resulting investigation revealed that Chandler allegedly paid at least five girls he met online to engage in sexually explicit acts on video.

Chandler used multiple social media apps to connect with the victims, who were all approximately 14 years old. The criminal complaint affidavit details that Chandler groomed victims online for up to two years and allegedly paid the victims through Visa gift cards in exchange for sexual videos and images.

Screen recordings and messages on Chandler's electronic devices allegedly show that he threatened to kill at least one of the victims if she "tattled" on him. Chandler referred to drowning the victim or using knives to cut the victim's throat.

Chandler was originally arrested on local charges in Highland County.

Sexual exploitation of children is a federal crime punishable by at least 15 and up to 30 years in prison. Coercion and enticement carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Receipt of child pornography is punishable by five to 20 years in prison.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders and Highland County Prosecuting Attorney Anneka P. Collins announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney's Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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