Butler County's legal officials are distancing themselves from the criminal case against the son of President Judge Thomas Doerr.

John Paul Doerr III, 32, faces 42 felony charges related to child pornography.

A day after District Attorney Richard Goldinger said he would refer the case to the state Attorney General's office for prosecution, Judge William Shaffer said he would not be involved in the case against John Doerr.

The judge was scheduled to preside over John Doerr's case on March 21, but Shaffer directed the court administration to request that the state find an out of county judge of their choosing to substitute for Shaffer.

The judge in John Doerr's arraignment, a first step process in the criminal justice system, also recused himself in the case. Judge William Fullerton was scheduled to preside over the preliminary hearing. Instead, an out of county judge was tapped for it.

In his response to why he made the decision to remove himself from the case, Shaffer said, “It would be the same reason a visiting judge would make the decision and the same reason Goldinger recused himself.”

Shaffer stressed that the decision was made so that there is no appearance of impropriety. With John Doerr being the son of one of the most important figures in Butler's court system, officials at every step are taking care to not appear biased in favor of the Doerrs.

The proceedings will still be held in Butler County.

John Doerr was arraigned on six counts of dissemination of photographs, videotapes, computer depictions and films depicting children engaged in sex acts, 35 counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of criminal use of a communication facility, all felonies.

He subsequently waived his preliminary hearing and was released on his own recognizance.

The investigation into John Doerr's alleged child pornography activity began with an undercover investigation into the Internet sharing of child pornography, according to court documents. Police searched John Doerr's home on Oct. 16 and seized a computer tower of his. They interviewed him the same day and he “confessed to downloading multiple child pornography videos” onto the computer, according to a police affidavit.

He also admitted that he “did intentionally search for, download and view child pornography using his computer tower,” the affidavit said.