Crime & Safety

Shaker Heights Man Indicted for Child Pornography

Resident included in 21-person indictment following seven-month investigation.

A Shaker Heights man has been indicted on child pornography charges following a seven-month investigation by the the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Robert Humphrey, 64, of Winslow Road, was among 20 adults and one juvenile indicted as part of “Operation Rise and Shine.”

His arraignment is scheduled in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for Dec. 13.

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Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said Operation Rise and Shine targeted traders of child pornography across the state.

Using new technology, detectives identified IP addresses being used to trade and download child pornography pictures and videos.

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Between March and October, law enforcement officers from 21 agencies executed 31 search warrants on homes in 19 communities throughout Cuyahoga County.

Officers seized 2,455 items like computers, external hard drives, thumb drives, CDs and DVDs. An additional 76 cases were referred to 57 other law enforcement agencies in Ohio and one in Michigan.

Shaker Heights Police Department assisted in the investigation.

The indictments include:

  • Michael Kleinschmidt, 51, of Cleveland, who was charged in a 103 count indictment that includes downloading, trading, and possessing child pornography. Kleinschmidt was previously indicted and pleaded guilty in December 1992, to one count of unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance and four counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. He was sentenced in January 1993 to 1-1/2 years in prison.
  • Walter Jacobsen, 46, of North Olmsted, was charged in a 24-count indictment that includes downloading, trading, and possessing child pornography. He is an employee of the Positive Education Program (PEP) which is designed to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children. Jacobsen continues to deny purposefully downloading child pornography and is currently on administrative leave from PEP.
  • Robert Holpuch, 57, of Valley View, a volleyball official for the Ohio High School Athletic Association, was charged in a four count indictment that includes attempted rape, attempted kidnapping, attempted compelling prostitution  and possessing criminal tools. On October 29, 2012, undercover ICAC investigators posted an advertisement on the Internet. Holpuch immediately responded to the ad by e-mail. After additional conversation via e-mail and text, Holpuch agreed to pay $100 to the undercover investigator to engage in sexual activity with a 12-year-old girl. 

The following adult defendants were indicted in the operation:

David Chmielewski, 45, of Bay Village
Jason Duhamel, 28, of Cleveland
Peter Hale, Jr., 56, of Cleveland
Clayton Holler, Jr., 30, of Parma
Robert Holpuch, 57, of Valley View
Robert Humphrey, 64, of Shaker Heights
Walter Jacobsen, 46, of North Olmsted
Michael Kleinschmidt, 51, of Cleveland
Maher Lababidi, 33, of Lakewood
Bruce Mazur, 63, of Strongsville
Keith Marks, 56, of Cleveland
Erik Miller, 29, of Seven Hills
Robert Palmerio, 72, of Lyndhurst
Jared Recob, 24, of Cleveland
Gregory Ross, 49, of Parma
John Snider, 68, of Lakewood
Alpher Torres, 38, of Cleveland
Chad Wain, 29, of Berea
Ronald Waynerka, 55, of Parma
Patrick Ziska, 22, of Strongsville


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