Portsmouth, Ohio man who's implicated in a pedophile ring, wants his freedom

According to his defense, new evidence indicates that W. David Cole, 62, of Portsmouth, did not drive innocent children to a Wheelersburg home to abuse them.

W. David Cole, 62, of Portsmouth, is described in court records as close friends with Larry Dean Porter,69, who authorities claim paid parents to rape their children.

Several witnesses told the FBI they had witnessed abusers returned and offered their children years later - even though they had been abused by Porter.

Porter, Cole, and nine others were indicted, and they're now facing federal charges.

The charges against Cole include conspiring to sex-traffic children, obstructing sex-trafficking investigations, and destroying or removing evidence

According to attorneys for Cole, two witnesses have testified that some of the government's claims have been wrong.

According to the new evidence, Cole did not drive victims to and from Porter's house, nor did he engage in the removal of evidence after Porter's arrest.

The defense argued that the government’s case was based on the credibility of the evidence against him. This new information casts doubts on this evidence.

Cole's lawyers are asking for another hearing to determine if he can get a pretrial release.