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A volunteer assistant fire chief in Stark County who was recognized as his department's firefighter of the year just two months before his arrest has been taken into federal custody after investigators say he admitted to downloading child sexual abuse material.
Donald Paul Morrow, 58, is the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Accused of Child Sexual Abuse Material in Ohio who was arrested following the execution of federal search warrants at his home and place of employment. A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court charges Morrow with the receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography. He is being held in the Mahoning County Jail pending a future detention hearing.
The investigation began in April after the FBI received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators traced an online cloud storage account containing illicit material to an email address and telephone number registered to Morrow. Federal authorities subsequently executed search warrants at his residence and workplace in Washington Township.
Morrow, who has served as assistant fire chief for the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department since joining in 1997, also worked as a fire instructor at Stark State College. At his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carmen Henderson in Youngstown, Morrow waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the matter was bound over to a federal grand jury.
The factual information above was sourced from wfmj.com as of June 1, 2026. The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
When a person in a trusted public safety role is accused of offenses involving child sexual abuse material, communities and families often have questions about what civil and legal options exist beyond the federal criminal process. Legal Herald editor Paul Amess spoke with Ohio sexual abuse attorney John Bey, Esq., about what families should understand in cases involving alleged child exploitation by individuals in positions of public trust.
Paul Amess: John, when a public safety official is accused of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, what civil legal options may be available to families of children depicted in that material?
John Bey, Esq.: Cases involving the alleged possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material carry serious civil implications that many families are unaware of. Under federal law, victims depicted in child sexual abuse material have specific legal rights, including the ability to seek restitution. Beyond that, depending on the circumstances, civil claims may be available against individuals found to be in possession of such material. Families should speak with an experienced attorney to understand the full scope of what may be available to them.
Paul Amess: In cases where an accused individual held a position of public trust and community standing, does that factor into the civil legal landscape?
John Bey, Esq.: A person's position of public trust is relevant context in these cases. When someone in a role of community authority is alleged to have engaged in this type of conduct, it raises broader questions about oversight and accountability at the institutional level. Families who have concerns should not assume they have no legal options — an experienced attorney can evaluate the specific facts and advise accordingly.
Paul Amess: What would you say to a family in Ohio who believes their child may have been depicted in material discovered during an investigation like this?
John Bey, Esq.: Please reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Families in this situation have specific rights under both state and federal law, and understanding those rights early in the process is critical. An initial consultation is completely confidential and free of charge.
If you or someone you love has been affected by child sexual abuse material or child exploitation in Ohio, you may have significant legal rights available to you. Contact The Legal Herald today to be connected with an experienced Ohio sexual abuse attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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