LISBON — A Salem man who recently lost his appeal over his child pornography case is now trying to get the Ohio Supreme Court to hear his argument.

Brian Hough, 62, previously of Monroe Avenue, filed the paperwork on his own behalf last week, claiming the case “raises a substantial constitutional question and is one of public or great special interest.”

In June 2023, he was sentenced to more than 41 years in prison on multiple counts related to his possession of child pornographic images. After the sentencing, he tried to file a motion to withdraw his plea, claiming health issues and pain affected his decision the day he entered the guilty plea.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam denied the request to take back the plea, noting that the motion to withdraw plea wasn’t filed until after the sentencing and some time had passed between the plea and sentencing date. He said the record of the proceedings did not support Hough’s claim about health issues affecting him.

The charges against Hough included fifth-degree felony importuning, fifth-degree felony possessing criminal tools, 10 counts of fourth-degree felony pandering obscenity involving a minor or an impaired person and 67 counts of fifth-degree felony illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance.

The pandering obscenity charges were for having, buying or controlling obscene materials with a child as one of the participants. The majority of the charges were for his possession of images or materials depicting naked children.

Hough challenged the denial of his attempt to take back the guilty plea to the Seventh District Court of Appeals. The appellate court recently affirmed Washam’s decision, referring to Hough as the appellant, saying “the record indicates it was appellant who insisted on completing the change of plea hearing, and there is no indication that his medication or medical condition rendered his plea involuntary.”

The judgment entry from Seventh District Court also said there was no indication in the record that Hough “was not thinking clearly or did not understand the choice he was making.” The court ruled that no manifest injustice occurred in this case, agreeing with Washam’s decision.

Investigators with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force became aware of Hough’s alleged illegal activity after receiving a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program on Feb. 18, 2022, which said Hough was allegedly downloading child pornography.

An agent with the MVHTTF pretended to be a 14-year-old boy and engaged in an undercover conversation with Hough, who then solicited sexual conduct, and then attempted to meet “the boy” on March 7, 2022, leading to his arrest and the discovery of the images.