Lorain man sentenced to nearly decade in prison in local child sexual abuse case

A Lorain man with a prior conviction for sexual relations with a minor has been sentenced to nearly a decade in prison in Defiance County Common Pleas Court on new charges that he possessed child pornography.

Tommy Bigger, 31, was given a prison term of nine years and 11 months by Judge Joseph Schmenk on 10 counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, each a fourth-degree felony.

He also was classified as a tier III sexual offender — requiring him to register his address for life with authorities when he is not imprisoned — and given credit for 111 days served while his case was pending.

Bigger had pleaded guilty to the charges on Jan. 30 when a pre-sentence investigation was ordered.

A June 2023 grand jury indictment had alleged that Bigger “received or possessed materials that showed minors participating or engaging in sexual activity.”

The sentence took into account Bigger’s criminal history which included a conviction in Paulding County Common Pleas Court in 2013 for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a second-degree felony. He had been sentenced to a five-year prison term, then was placed on Adult Parole Authority supervision following his release.

Asked about the lengthy sentenced imposed recently against Bigger, Defiance County Prosecutor Morris Murray noted that with “cases involving the sexual exploitation of children I think the community looks at those as some of the worst things someone can do. Obviously the outcome of a case like this takes that into consideration.”

Bigger was represented by attorney Cam Stanley of Defiance.