Federal agents have arrested Randall J. MacKendrick, 59, of St. Clairsville, the former chief executive of the Fox Run Center for Children and Adolescents, and federal charges against him were unsealed in Columbus on Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio said. He is charged with possessing child pornography and with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor — allegations in a criminal complaint, not findings of guilt — and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

According to the charging documents cited by the Justice Department, the case began in June 2026, when MacKendrick allegedly communicated online with a North Ridgeville police officer who was working undercover and posing as a 14-year-old. Prosecutors allege the exchanges continued into August, included sexually explicit messages and offers of gifts, and repeatedly sought an in-person meeting. In July he allegedly travelled to central Ohio locations including Polaris Fashion Place, Tanger Outlets and a Holiday Inn in an attempt to meet the fictitious teenager, the department said.

In August, he allegedly travelled to South Central Park in Lorain County for a planned meeting and was arrested on local charges after leaving the park, prosecutors said. Belmont County sheriff's detectives then searched his office and residence, and a forensic analysis of his electronic devices allegedly turned up images and videos of child sexual abuse material, according to the Justice Department. Separate reporting by The Marshall Project, republished by Cleveland Scene, covered that earlier local arrest and said the facility's owner, Universal Health Services, said MacKendrick no longer worked for the organisation and had no access to the facility.

Source: Cleveland Scene / The Marshall Project

Bond, a second arrest and a separate investigation

The Justice Department said MacKendrick was released on bond in the local case and re-arrested in September after officers learned he was allegedly in contact with a 17-year-old former patient of Fox Run; his bond was increased and he was released again. In October, the FBI learned he is a suspect — again, an allegation that remains under investigation — in a Perry County case involving a 14-year-old, and the department said his DNA matches DNA recovered in that case. No minor is named in this report, in line with standard protections for minors.

MacKendrick was arrested on Saturday in West Virginia and transferred to the Southern District of Ohio before Monday's initial appearance, the department said. Possession of child pornography carries up to 20 years in prison, and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor carries at least 10 years and up to life, prosecutors said. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood and was announced by U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II, FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie, the North Ridgeville Police Department and Belmont County Sheriff James G. Zusack. A second report on the unsealed federal charges was published by J News Network.

Source: J News Network