Reality TV Swinger Pleads Guilty to Child Porn, Animal Sex Charges, Seeks Trial for Alleged Rape

Tony McCollister, a former reality television personality, has pleaded guilty to child pornography and bestiality charges in Ohio. He maintains his innocence on the more severe charge of allegedly drugging and raping a 5-year-old girl and intends to go to trial for that offense.

McCollister, who was featured on the short-lived A&E series “Neighbors with Benefits,” was arrested in December along with his partner, Erica Grove. Authorities discovered explicit material involving children linked to McCollister's IP address. During a six-month investigation, officials uncovered a video depicting McCollister and Grove engaging in sexual conduct with two dogs, according to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators also found thousands of text messages exchanged between the couple and evidence suggesting they drugged and raped a girl under the age of 6, WLWT reported. The victim was reportedly 5 years old at the time of the alleged assault.

McCollister entered a guilty plea to 13 counts of pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor and four counts of sexual conduct with an animal. The charges related to the alleged drugging and rape of the child will proceed to a bench trial.

Grove was convicted last week of gross sexual contact and two counts of endangering a child. She was found not guilty of rape but had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual conduct with an animal.

Grove's defense attorneys argued that the text messages were purely fantasy, while prosecutors contended they demonstrated actual abuse. Both McCollister and Grove are scheduled for sentencing in November.

McCollister's appearance on "Neighbors with Benefits" in 2015 depicted him as a leader within a swinger community, aiming to attract new members to their lifestyle. The series aired only two episodes.