Lambert child pornography trial continued until next year
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
A jury trial for former Highland County Visitors Bureau director and Hillsboro city commissions member Bob Lambert that had been scheduled for Dec. 12 in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio (Cincinnati), has been continued until next year.
The case, USA v. Lambert, has been assigned to Judge Susan J. Dlott, who has served as a judge for the Southern District court since being appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1995, according to the United States District Court’s Southern District of Ohio website.
A final pretrial in the case was scheduled for Nov. 29; however, a motion by Lambert's defense attorney, Adam Boyd Bleile, has been granted.
According to the court filing, "As grounds for this motion, counsel states that he has just received discovery in this matter and there may be additional discovery to be produced. Defense counsel has been in constant and open communication with government counsel Christy Muncy regarding discovery. Part of the discovery can only be viewed at the government’s office due to the sensitive nature of the evidence. This portion was viewed late last week for the first time. To be clear, the government has been prompt in responding to discovery. However, due to conflicting schedules, it has taken a small delay in time for Defendant to be fully informed due to logistics in viewing discovery."
Lambert, who turns 63 on Dec. 11, was indicted on four felony charges by a Hamilton County grand jury on Wednesday, Sept. 21.
Lambert has been charged with:
• Production and attempted production of child pornography (two counts);
• Distribution of child pornography; and
• Possession of child pornography.
Lambert is being represented by Cincinnati attorney Bleile.
Local law enforcement confirmed on Sept. 15 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now the lead investigative authority in the Lambert case, with evidence taken to the FBI’s Cincinnati office.
It was reported on Aug. 18 that two criminal charges against Lambert had been sent to a Highland County grand jury, following his preliminary hearing Thursday, Aug. 18 in Hillsboro Municipal Court.
A Highland County grand jury was convened Tuesday, Sept. 13. However, Lambert was not among those indicted.
Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited said that as the investigation developed, there was probable cause for the FBI to offer its assistance.
Lambert was arrested at his East Main Street home in Hillsboro on Tuesday, Aug. 9 and was charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony; and pandering obscenity with a minor, a fifth-degree felony.
Lambert was terminated Tuesday, Aug. 9 as director of the CVB by board president Tom Horst.
Lambert also was appointed by Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings to serve on the Hillsboro Planning Commission and the Hillsboro Civil Service Commission. During the mayor's trial earlier this month, Hastings testified that he previously lived at Lambert's 449 East Main Street residence in Hillsboro.
"I stayed there, lived there, really, with him for a couple of months until I could get a place situated uptown that I liked,” Hastings said.
In letters dated June 23 – but stamped received by the city on June 22 – Lambert submitted his resignation from his two city commissions, stating he resigned "due to increasing constraints on my time and other life events."
Both resignations were effective July 1. However, Lambert answered the roll call and voted during the July 18 Hillsboro Planning Commission meeting.
Prior to his arrest, Lambert had posted on social media that he was moving to Florida. He was arrested not long after that post.
The United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio has granted the motion to continue Lambert's trial.
The pretrial is now set for Jan. 3, and the trial is scheduled for Jan. 17.
The case, USA v. Lambert, has been assigned to Judge Susan J. Dlott, who has served as a judge for the Southern District court since being appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1995, according to the United States District Court’s Southern District of Ohio website.
A final pretrial in the case was scheduled for Nov. 29; however, a motion by Lambert's defense attorney, Adam Boyd Bleile, has been granted.
According to the court filing, "As grounds for this motion, counsel states that he has just received discovery in this matter and there may be additional discovery to be produced. Defense counsel has been in constant and open communication with government counsel Christy Muncy regarding discovery. Part of the discovery can only be viewed at the government’s office due to the sensitive nature of the evidence. This portion was viewed late last week for the first time. To be clear, the government has been prompt in responding to discovery. However, due to conflicting schedules, it has taken a small delay in time for Defendant to be fully informed due to logistics in viewing discovery."
Lambert, who turns 63 on Dec. 11, was indicted on four felony charges by a Hamilton County grand jury on Wednesday, Sept. 21.
Lambert has been charged with:
• Production and attempted production of child pornography (two counts);
• Distribution of child pornography; and
• Possession of child pornography.
Lambert is being represented by Cincinnati attorney Bleile.
Local law enforcement confirmed on Sept. 15 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now the lead investigative authority in the Lambert case, with evidence taken to the FBI’s Cincinnati office.
It was reported on Aug. 18 that two criminal charges against Lambert had been sent to a Highland County grand jury, following his preliminary hearing Thursday, Aug. 18 in Hillsboro Municipal Court.
A Highland County grand jury was convened Tuesday, Sept. 13. However, Lambert was not among those indicted.
Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited said that as the investigation developed, there was probable cause for the FBI to offer its assistance.
Lambert was arrested at his East Main Street home in Hillsboro on Tuesday, Aug. 9 and was charged with illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony; and pandering obscenity with a minor, a fifth-degree felony.
Lambert was terminated Tuesday, Aug. 9 as director of the CVB by board president Tom Horst.
Lambert also was appointed by Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings to serve on the Hillsboro Planning Commission and the Hillsboro Civil Service Commission. During the mayor's trial earlier this month, Hastings testified that he previously lived at Lambert's 449 East Main Street residence in Hillsboro.
"I stayed there, lived there, really, with him for a couple of months until I could get a place situated uptown that I liked,” Hastings said.
In letters dated June 23 – but stamped received by the city on June 22 – Lambert submitted his resignation from his two city commissions, stating he resigned "due to increasing constraints on my time and other life events."
Both resignations were effective July 1. However, Lambert answered the roll call and voted during the July 18 Hillsboro Planning Commission meeting.
Prior to his arrest, Lambert had posted on social media that he was moving to Florida. He was arrested not long after that post.
The United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio has granted the motion to continue Lambert's trial.
The pretrial is now set for Jan. 3, and the trial is scheduled for Jan. 17.