A Perrysburg man has been sentenced for having tens of thousands of pornographic images involving children.

Raymond Carter, 35, was transferred from jail Thursday to the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman.

“This is truly one of the worst pandering cases I have ever seen,” said Wood County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Pamela Gross.

Carter was indicted in March 2023 for 12 counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor or impaired person, both second-degree and fourth-degree felonies; and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.

That same month, he was indicted for two counts of rape, both first-degree felonies, among other sexual oriented charges in Hancock County. He was sentenced to life in prison for those charges earlier this week.

In May, Carter pleaded guilty to seven F2 and one F4 pandering charges and for possession criminal tools, which were 28 electronic devices.

The remaining pandering charges were dismissed.

On July 4 through Dec. 12, 2022, he created or reproduced material that showed a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity, masturbation or bestiality.

On Feb. 2, 2023, he purchased or possessed obscene material that had a minor as one of its participants.

Gross said while no victims were directly named in the indictment, the family of children in the videos were in court.

The investigation started with a tip received from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to the Perrysburg Police Department. Detectives spent hundreds of hours on this case before requesting search warrants, she said.

Their investigation led to charges across the country, Gross said.

Thousands if not tens of thousands of images and videos of child porn were found on Carter’s electronic devices, she said.

It was reported that Carter had been collecting videos and images for 20 years.

“Most shocking was that some of the child pornography was homemade,” she said.

Gross suggested a sentence of 15-25 years “is more than appropriate,” and asked that it run consecutive to the sentence imposed in Hancock County.

Defense attorney Zach Mayo argued that lesser sentences were imposed for similar cases he has handled in other counties.

He acknowledged that this case was more severe than the others, and “no two cases are the same.”

“It was truly things that were being viewed and were being stored,” not sold or shared, Mayo said.

Carter has been in therapy for a year and “there’s been a lot of growth,” he said.

He asked for a sentence less than the state’s range and concurrent to the sentence imposed in Hancock County.

Raymond Carter, the defendant’s father, asked for leniency with punishment combined with more rehabilitation.

We were shocked with what happened, but we still support him, he said.

“We’re not excusing what happened but there’s a lot of good in him,” he said.

The defendant said counseling and new medication has helped his mental health.

“I am very sorry for all of my actions,” he said.

Kuhlman said the victims suffered mental injuries just by being depicted in the material you had.

While there is no proof you shared the images or videos, the children were victimized every time their photo was viewed, he said.

“These specific acts outweigh any goodness you offer the public,” he said.

He imposed five years for four pandering charges, to be served consecutively for 20 years. An additional 2.5 years is possible as one count was classified as a Reagan Tokes offense.

This sentence will be served consecutively to the life without parole sentences imposed in Hanock County Tuesday for each of two counts of rape, both involving the same minor.

Kuhlman imposed one year for each of the remaining charges to be served concurrently.

Carter plans to appeal.

Gross said after the sentencing that the consecutive sentence will still be served even if Carter wins an appeal in Hancock County.

If he is ever released from prison, he will have to register as a Tier II sex offender, which will require registration every 180 days for 25 years.

Carter’s co-defendant, Dustan J. Gerschutz, 36, Perrysburg, is to appear in Kuhlman’s courtroom on Aug. 8 for a final pretrial. His trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 28.