South Salem man sentenced on pandering obscenity charge

A South Salem man was sentenced recently to community control after pleading guilty to a fifth-degree felony pandering obscenity charge. 

As previously reported, Ronald Houseman II, 44, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in March. He was charged with one count each of telecommunications harassment and pandering obscenity, both fifth-degree felonies. Both charges are for allegations stemming from the same date in November 2024. 

The indictment alleged Houseman “did knowingly post an image on an internet webpage for the purpose of abusing, threatening or harassing” a victim. On the same day, Houseman was accused of “promoting or advertising for sale, delivering or disseminating, selling, delivering, publicly disseminating, publicly displaying, exhibiting, presenting, renting or providing obscene material.” 

According to court records, Houseman pleaded guilty to the pandering obscenity charge in September, with the harassment charge dismissed.

During a sentencing hearing Oct. 30, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss ordered Houseman to serve three years of community control and to be evaluated at Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health, where Houseman is to comply with any recommended treatment. Houseman was further ordered to have no contact with the victim.

In addition, Houseman will be classified as a tier I sex offender.