Camden Twp. man accused of importuning, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor

FREMONT — A Camden Township resident who is an elected member of the Lorain County Fair Board was arrested in Fremont on March 2 and charged with importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, according to police. A report from the Fremont Police Department stated that Thomas Adams, 53, offered to engage in sexual conduct with a police officer posing online as a 15-year-old female. The officer posed as the girl on a social networking platform, according to the report. Police say Adams initiated contact with the officer's social media account. After he allegedly offered to engage in the sexual conduct, Adams was reported to have traveled to the area of a prearranged location in Fremont, where he was arrested and held at Sandusky County Jail. According to a section of the police report written by the arresting officer, Adams signed a waiver of rights and allegedly mentioned that he was previously arrested for solicitation of prostitution last April. It was not immediately clear where the alleged April 2021 arrest occurred or what the outcome of the situation was. The officer wrote that while in the police station, Adams said he "traveled to the city of Fremont to talk some sense to the girl. Adams however decided not even to do that and left the area." Adams is a director on the Lorain County Fair Board, the body that oversees the annual fair in Wellington. Fair Board President Rick Ternes said the fair board is aware of Adams' March 2 arrest, but he was unaware of the alleged April 2021 arrest. Ternes said he was hoping Adams would contact the fair's executive board, but they had not spoken with him as of Tuesday afternoon. The fair board is waiting to see how the legal process plays out, Ternes said. Under the Lorain County Agricultural Society constitution, a fair board director can be removed for cause by a vote of two-third of the board of directors. Included among the causes that are grounds for removal are conviction of a felony offense and conviction of "any other criminal offense involving moral turpitude." Adams was last elected to a three-year term on the board in 2020. When individuals run for election and re-election to the fair board, Ternes said they are required to complete both the FBI and BCI background checks. Ternes said both of Adams' background checks came back clean when he ran in 2020. Adams has a preliminary hearing scheduled for the afternoon of March 15, according to Fremont Municipal Court records. He was arraigned by video on March 3 and has a hearing scheduled Thursday to advise of attorney. The records state that Adams was released on own recognizance bond at the state's recommendation, on the conditions that he remains law abiding and has no contact with any minor children not related to him by blood. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com.