Officer charged in sex material case

While agents of the Ottawa County Major Crimes Unit were executing a search warrant Nov. 27 at a residence in Oak Harbor, the subject of the warrant, Austin Sabo, reportedly admitted to exchanging nude images with a juvenile female.
The Major Crimes Unit was joined by officers from the Oak Harbor and Elmore police departments and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office in executing the search warrant at 227 W. Park St. as part of an ongoing child sexual abuse material investigation.
Sabo, 23, was subsequently arrested and incarcerated in the Ottawa County Detention Facility on two charges; disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.
Both are fifth degree felonies.
According to a release from the Major Crimes Unit, a detection dog located several electronic devices that are of evidentiary value during the search of the premises.
The investigation is pending. Sabo’s case has been referred to the Ottawa County Municipal Court.
Sabo was hired by the Village of Walbridge as a part-time police officer in October.
The K-9 unit was donated to the Major Crimes Unit for the warrant search by O.U.R. Rescue, an organization focused on combating human trafficking and child exploitation.
The Major Crimes Unit can be reached at 419-898-3155.