Man under investigation in teen's August drowning is charged with 3 felonies

Under investigation for his role in the drowning death of a Sheffield Lake teen in the Black River two months ago, an Elyria man has been charged with three felonies. A grand jury indicted Jacob Rosado, 24, of Birchbark Drive, in two cases handed up Friday in Lorain County Common Pleas Court. In the first, Rosado is charged with tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. In the second, he is charged with one count each of pandering obscenity involving a minor or impaired person and pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, both fourth-degree felonies. Rosado was being held in the Lorain County Jail on $150,000 cash bond, according to jail records. The pandering charges allege Rosado possessed obscene material showing a child or teen engaged in sexual activity. The evidence tampering charge alleges he altered or destroyed evidence knowing that there was an ongoing criminal investigation. Elyria Police Chief James Welsh said evidence was presented to the grand jury this week. "We will work with Prosecutor (Tony) Cillo's office to obtain a successful result in the criminal case against Rosado," he said in a text message. A message seeking comment was left for Rosado's attorney, James Ingalls. The cases haven't been assigned to a judge. Elyria police filed the charges while investigating the death of 16-year-old Vincent Pabon, last seen alive on Aug. 6 with Rosado entering the woods beneath the East Falls of the Black River. Rosado told police he and Pabon spent the night drinking alcohol Rosado had provided. At some point, Pabon fell into the Black River and didn't come back out, Rosado reportedly told police. Rosado allegedly didn't report Pabon missing for three hours until the morning of Aug. 7, according to Elyria police. A search of Rosado's phone turned up an image of child sexual abuse material. Rosado and Pabon knew each other, as Pabon was the victim in a prior criminal case involving Rosado. Rosado pleaded guilty to and was convicted of attempted criminal child enticement, a second-degree misdemeanor, in county Common Pleas Court in January 2022. He had been charged the year before, at age 19, with gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony that can involve unwanted or unlawful sexual touching. Court and police records said Pabon was the victim in that incident, which happened in February 2021. Rosado pleaded guilty three days before his scheduled trial. His defense attorney and the county Prosecutor's Office recommended a sentence of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. Judge Chris Cook went along with that recommendation, suspended the jail term and ordered Rosado to be on good behavior for six months, according to court records. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.