Tiffin Police Arrest Local Man for Sharing Child Exploitation Material via BitTorrent

January 23, 2025

TIFFIN A covert online investigation led by Detective Eric England of the Tiffin Police Department’s Criminal Division has resulted in the arrest of 46-year-old Mick J. Okonski. The investigation, conducted with the support of multiple law enforcement agencies, uncovered the sharing of child sexual exploitation material via the peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol BitTorrent.

Earlier today, authorities executed a search warrant at a residence in the 700 block of S. Washington St. in Tiffin, Ohio. Mr. Okonski admitted to both downloading and sharing the illicit material and was taken into custody. He is currently being held at the Seneca County Jail pending his arraignment.

Mr. Okonski faces charges of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor, a second-degree felony that carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine. Authorities have indicated that additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues and further evidence is analyzed.

The successful conclusion of this investigation was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the METRICH Task Force, the FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Investigative Unit, and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. Their combined expertise and support were instrumental in bringing this case to a resolution.

Chief Pauly of the Tiffin Police Department expressed his gratitude to Detective England and the Criminal Division for their tireless dedication. He also extended appreciation to the assisting agencies for their unwavering commitment to protecting the community.

“The safety and well-being of our children remain our top priority,” said Chief Pauly. “We will continue to work diligently to hold offenders accountable and ensure justice is served.”

The Tiffin Police Department encourages anyone with information related to child exploitation to report it to local authorities or through national hotlines.

For further updates on this case, stay tuned to official law enforcement communications and local news outlets.