Medina man charged in connection with report of sex offense involving a minor

MEDINA — A Medina man pleaded not guilty to two felony charges on Tuesday in connection with the recent report of a sex offense involving a minor. Eric Christopher Dockery, 47, of Medina, appeared for his arraignment in the Medina County Court of Common Pleas via video, according to court documents. Dockery is charged with one count of voyeurism, a fifth degree felony, and one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, a second-degree felony . On Feb. 6, Medina police officers were dispatched to a Byrnmar Lane residence at 11:39 p.m. regarding the report of a sex offense involving a minor. Upon investigation, officers learned that a minor was secretly recorded while in a state of nudity in a private bedroom. The Medina Police Department reported that the recording was discovered on a shared household computer. Detectives responded to the scene, the Medina Police Department reported, preserving the digital evidence and securing a copy of the video. Dockery was found at a different residence shortly after and taken into custody. A Medina County grand jury indicted him on Feb. 10 with one count of voyeurism and one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance. On Feb. 12, Dockery's bond was set at $25,000, cash or bail bond only, court documents state. He was to have no contact with the victim or anyone under 18 years old. Dockery's bond conditions were amended during Tuesday's arraignment, requiring that he obtain a mental health assessment within three days. Because of the sensitive nature of the case and the victim's age, the Medina Police Department stated that no additional identifying information would be released. Medina Police Department detectives have obtained search warrants for multiple electronic devices, and the investigation remains ongoing. The Medina Police Department worked in coordination with the Medina County Job and Family Services and made appropriate notifications to child protection authorities. Medina Police Chief Ed Kinney said the department has worked to balance the privacy of the victim while also informing the public in case anyone had additional information to provide. Anyone with additional information relevant to the case is encouraged to contact the Medina Police Department Detective Bureau at (330) 725-7777. A pretrial is set for April 20 at 8:30 a.m. with Medina County Common Pleas Judge Joyce Kimbler, followed by a jury trial on May 4 at 9 a.m. Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.