Topline: Authorities say the former reality TV personality is accused of sexually abusing animals and uploading child sexual abuse material, charges that sent his case to a grand jury.
Published: December 31, 2025 3:55 pm ET
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Tony McCollister (via Warren County Jail)
LEBANON, OH — An Ohio man who once had a brief turn on reality television is now at the center of a serious criminal case involving allegations of child sexual abuse material and sexual conduct with animals.
Tony McCollister, 43, appeared in Warren County Court this week, where a judge kept him jailed on a $250,000 cash-only bond, according to WLWT.
McCollister was arrested early Dec. 23 outside his home in Union Township and remains in the Warren County Jail. Prosecutors allege he knowingly possessed and uploaded child sexual abuse material to his Google account and engaged in sexual conduct with two of his dogs, according to WKRC.
Court documents cited by WXIX state that McCollister is charged with felony pandering obscene material involving children and misdemeanor sexual conduct with animals. The criminal complaint alleges the conduct occurred at his Lavender Way residence on Nov. 23 and involved material uploaded online, according to WXIX.
During a Tuesday court appearance, McCollister waived his right to a preliminary hearing, sending the case directly to a grand jury for review, WLWT reported. His public defender, Andrew Brenner, asked Judge Gary Loxley to lower the bond, arguing McCollister lacked the financial means to post it. “He would ask the court to take into account his limited financial circumstances and issue an appropriate bond while the case is pending,” Brenner said, according to WLWT. Prosecutors objected, and the judge denied the request, leaving the bond unchanged.
A second defendant, Erica Grove, appeared separately in court on related charges. Investigators allege Grove engaged in sexual conduct with the same animals, according to WKRC and WLWT. She pleaded not guilty and is not facing any child pornography charges, WLWT reported. Grove is not currently in custody.
Judge Loxley imposed strict no-contact orders on both defendants. McCollister was ordered to have no contact with minors under 18 and no contact with any animals, domesticated or wild, according to WKRC. Addressing Grove’s conditions, the judge said, “Your client is to have no contact with any animals, either domesticated or wild. The court is also going to issue an order that she is to have no contact with co-defendant Tony McCollister until further order of the court,” WLWT reported.
McCollister previously appeared in the A&E reality series “Neighbors With Benefits,” a Warren County–based show that followed couples who identified as swingers. The series aired in 2015 and was canceled after two episodes, with clips still available online, according to WKRC and WXIX.
McCollister’s case now heads to the grand jury, which will determine whether enough evidence exists to move forward with a trial. A pretrial hearing in Grove’s case is scheduled for next month, according to WKRC.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Ex-Reality TV Star Jailed for Alleged Sexual Conduct With Dogs, Children
Authorities say the former reality TV personality is accused of sexually abusing animals and uploading child sexual abuse material, charges that sent his case to a grand jury.
By Jacob Charles
Published: December 31, 2025 3:55 pm ET
Tony McCollister (via Warren County Jail)
LEBANON, OH — An Ohio man who once had a brief turn on reality television is now at the center of a serious criminal case involving allegations of child sexual abuse material and sexual conduct with animals.
Tony McCollister, 43, appeared in Warren County Court this week, where a judge kept him jailed on a $250,000 cash-only bond, according to WLWT.
McCollister was arrested early Dec. 23 outside his home in Union Township and remains in the Warren County Jail. Prosecutors allege he knowingly possessed and uploaded child sexual abuse material to his Google account and engaged in sexual conduct with two of his dogs, according to WKRC.
Court documents cited by WXIX state that McCollister is charged with felony pandering obscene material involving children and misdemeanor sexual conduct with animals. The criminal complaint alleges the conduct occurred at his Lavender Way residence on Nov. 23 and involved material uploaded online, according to WXIX.
During a Tuesday court appearance, McCollister waived his right to a preliminary hearing, sending the case directly to a grand jury for review, WLWT reported. His public defender, Andrew Brenner, asked Judge Gary Loxley to lower the bond, arguing McCollister lacked the financial means to post it. “He would ask the court to take into account his limited financial circumstances and issue an appropriate bond while the case is pending,” Brenner said, according to WLWT. Prosecutors objected, and the judge denied the request, leaving the bond unchanged.
A second defendant, Erica Grove, appeared separately in court on related charges. Investigators allege Grove engaged in sexual conduct with the same animals, according to WKRC and WLWT. She pleaded not guilty and is not facing any child pornography charges, WLWT reported. Grove is not currently in custody.
Judge Loxley imposed strict no-contact orders on both defendants. McCollister was ordered to have no contact with minors under 18 and no contact with any animals, domesticated or wild, according to WKRC. Addressing Grove’s conditions, the judge said, “Your client is to have no contact with any animals, either domesticated or wild. The court is also going to issue an order that she is to have no contact with co-defendant Tony McCollister until further order of the court,” WLWT reported.
McCollister previously appeared in the A&E reality series “Neighbors With Benefits,” a Warren County–based show that followed couples who identified as swingers. The series aired in 2015 and was canceled after two episodes, with clips still available online, according to WKRC and WXIX.
McCollister’s case now heads to the grand jury, which will determine whether enough evidence exists to move forward with a trial. A pretrial hearing in Grove’s case is scheduled for next month, according to WKRC.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Ex-Reality TV Star Jailed for Alleged Sexual Conduct With Dogs, Children
Authorities say the former reality TV personality is accused of sexually abusing animals and uploading child sexual abuse material, charges that sent his case to a grand jury.
By Jacob Charles
Published: December 31, 2025 3:55 pm ET
Tony McCollister (via Warren County Jail)
LEBANON, OH — An Ohio man who once had a brief turn on reality television is now at the center of a serious criminal case involving allegations of child sexual abuse material and sexual conduct with animals.
Tony McCollister, 43, appeared in Warren County Court this week, where a judge kept him jailed on a $250,000 cash-only bond, according to WLWT.
McCollister was arrested early Dec. 23 outside his home in Union Township and remains in the Warren County Jail. Prosecutors allege he knowingly possessed and uploaded child sexual abuse material to his Google account and engaged in sexual conduct with two of his dogs, according to WKRC.
Court documents cited by WXIX state that McCollister is charged with felony pandering obscene material involving children and misdemeanor sexual conduct with animals. The criminal complaint alleges the conduct occurred at his Lavender Way residence on Nov. 23 and involved material uploaded online, according to WXIX.
During a Tuesday court appearance, McCollister waived his right to a preliminary hearing, sending the case directly to a grand jury for review, WLWT reported. His public defender, Andrew Brenner, asked Judge Gary Loxley to lower the bond, arguing McCollister lacked the financial means to post it. “He would ask the court to take into account his limited financial circumstances and issue an appropriate bond while the case is pending,” Brenner said, according to WLWT. Prosecutors objected, and the judge denied the request, leaving the bond unchanged.
A second defendant, Erica Grove, appeared separately in court on related charges. Investigators allege Grove engaged in sexual conduct with the same animals, according to WKRC and WLWT. She pleaded not guilty and is not facing any child pornography charges, WLWT reported. Grove is not currently in custody.
Judge Loxley imposed strict no-contact orders on both defendants. McCollister was ordered to have no contact with minors under 18 and no contact with any animals, domesticated or wild, according to WKRC. Addressing Grove’s conditions, the judge said, “Your client is to have no contact with any animals, either domesticated or wild. The court is also going to issue an order that she is to have no contact with co-defendant Tony McCollister until further order of the court,” WLWT reported.
McCollister previously appeared in the A&E reality series “Neighbors With Benefits,” a Warren County–based show that followed couples who identified as swingers. The series aired in 2015 and was canceled after two episodes, with clips still available online, according to WKRC and WXIX.
McCollister’s case now heads to the grand jury, which will determine whether enough evidence exists to move forward with a trial. A pretrial hearing in Grove’s case is scheduled for next month, according to WKRC.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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