Vermilion, Ohio – Matthew G. Rich, 40, of Vermilion, has been formally bound over to the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas following charges of two counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, a second-degree felony under Ohio Revised Code 2907.322.
According to court records from Vermilion Municipal Court (Case No. CRA2500052B), Rich was charged on March 11, 2025, for offenses that allegedly occurred on September 7, 2024. The charges stem from an investigation by the Vermilion Police Department, with Sergeant Dale Reising listed as the complainant.
Rich appeared in Vermilion Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing on March 20, 2025, but waived the hearing, allowing the case to be bound over to the Lorain County Common Pleas Court. The bindover documentation, including a transcript and cost bill, was mailed on March 21, 2025, via e-certified mail.
Rich was released on a $30,000 personal recognizance bond, which he posted himself. As part of his bond conditions, he is being supervised through the Lorain County Adult Probation Department’s Court Supervised Release Program, with monitoring support from Ohio AMS.
Additional court entries confirm a warrant to discharge Rich from custody was issued following the bond posting. Public defender Michael E. Stepanik of Lorain has entered a notice of appearance on Rich’s behalf.
It is important to note that these charges are allegations, and Mr. Rich is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The next steps in the legal process will take place in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court, where a grand jury may consider an indictment.
This is an ongoing story. We will continue to follow the case as it enters the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas docket, and we will keep readers updated as more information becomes available.
