JC Man Pleads Guilty to federal charge

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

A Johnson County man pled guilty on pornography charges in Ashland federal court Monday, Jan. 12, after being arrested last year for secretly recording a 15-year-old girl.

Henry Jonathan Ritscher, 43, of Paintsville, entered the guilty on a federal charge of producing child pornography after being arrested back in September of 2025, when the girl discovered a video of herself showering and changing earlier that day.

Paintsville Police were contacted by a woman who said her daughter found nude photos and videos of herself.

The girl told police she was frequently a guest at Ritscher’s home and had accompanied him to pick up pizza. While he went in the restaurant, she stayed in the car and found the video when she used his phone while waiting.

During the police interview, Ritscher messaged the girl’s mother, saying he was sorry.

Ritscher’s phone was seized after police obtained a search warrant for his home. That’s where officers say they also found several surveillance cameras hidden in a tote in the garage.

When questioned about the cameras, Ritscher said he dismantled and hid them because he realized police would be coming to talk to him.

According to the police report, Ritscher gave a full confession to police, saying he had been secretly recording the girl for about a year-and-a-half, for his own sexual fantasies and had no intentions of ever actually touching the girl.

Ritscher was arrested and originally charged with video voyeurism, possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, and tampering with physical evidence.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a charge of possessing child porn. Ritscher will face a sentence of between 15 and 30 years in prison when he is sentenced May 4.