T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Dennis Stopar is arraigned Friday on six charges related to child pornography. He appeared in court via video. Also pictured is Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Vavra.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Dennis Stopar appeared via video Friday before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Chris Berhalter for arraignment and pleaded innocent to three counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and three counts of photographing a minor in a state of nudity.

All six charges are second-degree felonies.

Stopar, 66, of 72491 Flushing-Holloway Road, Flushing is scheduled to appear Feb. 26 for a pretrial hearing. His plea agreement deadline is March 11 and trial is March 21. Berhalter set his bond at $25,000.

Belmont County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Vavra gave some comments on the circumstances of the case.

“It’s alleged to have occurred at the residence,” he said. “Late September of 2023 is when it occurred, and he was arrested Dec. 29.”

He said the sheriff’s office became involved when it received notification from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about potential child pornography.

“The sheriff’s office was able to track down that it was occurring at this address via the IP address and they executed a search warrant,” he said, adding the search of Stopar’s devices reportedly resulted in evidence of improper photography.

He said no information is being released regarding the alleged victim.