Paulding County man sentenced to prison on child sexual abuse material charges

A Paulding County man who pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse material charges was sentenced this week in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court.

Alec Shull, 24, was sentenced by Judge Martin D. Burchfield of the Van Wert County Common Pleas Court to 3 to 4 1/2 years in prison for pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a 2nd-degree felony. He was also sentenced to 18 months on a separate count of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person, a 4th-degree felony.

The sentences will be served consecutively, meaning Shull will serve between 3 and 6 years in prison.

Shull was additionally sentenced to 12 months for illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a 5th-degree felony. That sentence will be served concurrently with the other prison terms. He was given credit for 70 days already served.

Shull entered a guilty plea in January. In exchange for the plea, 9 similar charges were dismissed. Court records show the offenses occurred between mid-December 2024 and mid-January 2025.