Fremont Youth Pastor Charged with Attempted Importuning Following D.A.P. Sting in Fremont

FREMONT, Ohio — A 68-year-old Tiffin man is facing criminal charges following a disturbance near a local restaurant that drew a large crowd and prompted a police response in Fremont yesterday.

According to public reports from the Fremont Police Department, officers were initially dispatched to the area of a Walmart for reports of a disturbance. Fremont Police then advised dispatch that they were moving to a Denny’s restaurant as the crowd moved in that direction. Fremont Police contacted the Sandusky County Sheriff’s Department and the Fremont post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol for assistance.

The group D.A.P. (Dads Against Predators) reportedly caught a man attempting to lure a child to the Denny’s in Fremont for sexual encounters. Ron Callahan of Tiffin, owner of Ron’s Photography and a youth pastor at Greater Saint James in Fremont, had allegedly contacted what he thought was a teenage boy on Grindr. In reality, he was communicating with D.A.P. members conducting an online sting operation. An audio recording provided by D.A.P. allegedly captures Callahan talking with the person he believed to be a teenage boy and making statements about having sexual relations.

Upon arriving at Denny’s, Callahan was confronted by Dads Against Predators. The group requested public support, and over 200 people from the area arrived at the scene. During the confrontation, Fremont Police officers entered the restaurant and escorted Callahan to a cruiser. Reports indicate police transported Callahan to the station on West State Street and released him an hour later.

Fremont Police identified the suspect as Ronald Callahan and charged him Thursday with attempted importuning. The charge stems from allegations tied to the sting operation conducted by D.A.P.

Numerous previous catches by Dads Against Predators have gone unanswered, resulting in no arrests by the Fremont Police Department or other criminal justice agencies. At those times, officials claimed they were unable to act on the evidence provided by the group. When asked why an arrest was possible in this instance but not previously, Fremont Police officials declined to comment to this news agency.

However, Fremont Police and other authorities emphasized that the actions taken by the group use procedures that are outside “the scope of standard investigative procedures”. While citizen-led efforts can generate tips, police noted that such operations can complicate potential criminal cases. They did not elaborate further to our news team at Varu Hub as to why these operations cause such “complications”.

Evidence to Be Reviewed

As they have done many times previously, Dads Against Predators representatives have agreed to turn over digital evidence, including videos, audio, and chat logs, to assist investigators. Law enforcement officials stated this material will be reviewed as part of the case to determine its validity and relevance.

Ongoing Investigation

The case remains under investigation, and authorities have not released additional information about the alleged online interactions at the center of the charge. It is also unclear whether further charges could be filed as investigators analyze the evidence.

Officials are reminding the public that while community involvement plays a role in reporting suspicious activity, individuals should avoid direct confrontations and instead report concerns to law enforcement to ensure proper handling.

Ronald Callahan will be in court on March 13, 2026. We will be there to report the outcome.

We will continue to monitor this situation in Fremont, Ohio and provide updates.