Firearms felonies added to counts against Sheffield man accused of assaulting children | News, Sports, Jobs

A Sheffield man facing charges of sexually assaulting children was bound over for court and had numerous firearms felonies added to his dockets.

Lorn Champlin, 63, of Sheffield, was held for Court of Common Pleas action on three counts of rape of a child, three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault – person under 13 years old, indecent assault – person under 13 years old, indecent exposure, and corruption of minors following a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Laura Bauer.

At the opening of the hearing, Warren County Public Defender Kord Kinney entered a not-guilty plea on Champlin’s behalf.

During the proceeding, an alleged victim, a Jamestown, N.Y., girl, testified that Champlin “was touching” her on numerous occasions at his Sheffield home when she was seven or eight years old.

The girl testified that she told her grandmother, then her mother, about the assaults. Champlin is charged with assaulting three different girls. Only the one was called as a witness on Wednesday.

“The court has found sufficient evidence to bind Lorn Champlin on all courts today,” Bauer said.

Following the preliminary hearing, Bauer kept Champlin in the courtroom for a preliminary arraignment. She said he was charged with a total of 17 counts of possession of a firearm prohibited – all felonies of the first degree. Each carries a maximum possible penalty of 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, Bauer said. She said he was not allowed to possess firearms due to a 2004 felony conviction on possession with intent to deliver.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Champlin was barefoot when arrested in April. He asked agents to retrieve some items – including shoes – from his home, Bauer read from the affidavit.

The agent “observed two rifles next to his bed and multiple rifles in a corner” while retrieving the requested items, she said.

The agents were granted a search warrant and executed it the same day, according to the affidavit.

“During the search, seven rifles were found… and an additional 10 rifles were found” in a gun safe, Bauer said.

The firearms and “approximately 2,500 rounds of ammunition” were placed into evidence, according to the affidavit.

Bauer set bail on the new charges at $50,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 14.