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Monday, October 27
Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety
    PPD 1522

    Nursing Home Scuffle Reported During Evening Smoke Break 

    Woman phone shocked WTF weird strange

    “I Don’t Care About Your Baby”: High School Fight Highlights Struggles of Pregnant Teens 

    Justin Holcomb

    Lucasville Man Charged After Domestic Assault Report 

    Good Kids CPS

    Children Rescued from Home Overnight as Drug Crisis Hits Another Portsmouth Family 

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    Double Trouble: Deputies Make Back-to-Back Domestic Violence Arrests 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Quick-Thinking Hotel Clerk Helps Woman Escape Alleged Abuser at Quality Inn 

    Convicted Predator at it Again: Stepfather’s “Hugs” Lead to Sex Crime Arrest 

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    Wall or No Wall? Resident Pushes Back on Portsmouth Riverfront Project 

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    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

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    Loaded and Forgotten: Gun Left Behind in Wendy’s Bathroom Sparks Safety Scare 

    Family Dispute at School Leads to CPS Investigation – Did Dad go Too Far? 

    Apartment Break In PMHA

    Residents Sound Alarm Over Safety at PMHA Apartments: “I’ve Had Four Break-In Attempts” 

    Darnell Lisath

    Repeat OVI Offender Busted Again After 2 A.M. Traffic Stop 

    Paul Abram

    Domestic Drama on Scioto Trail Ends With Arrest — But Not for What You’d Think

    Jacob Thompson

    Protection Order Ignored: Deputies Arrest Lucasville Man After Tense Standoff 

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    A.M. Chase Through Portsmouth Ends With Fugitive’s Arrest 

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    McDermott Mom Calls 911, Son Arrested on Probation Warrant 

    Elder Safety

    First Responders Sound the Alarm: Patient Found Living in “Deplorable” Conditions 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
    Portsmouth City Bonds

    Portsmouth Moves Forward With Bonds to Fund New City Building 

    Democrats Blast Bryan Davis: “Quit Collecting a Paycheck You’re Not Earning” 

    Robert Horton

    Update in Robert Horton Corruption Case 

    Davis Commish

    No Updates, Just an Empty Seat: Powell and Smith Say Davis Drama is Out of Their Hands

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    Parking, Murals, and an Indicted Commissioner: Sparks Fly at Portsmouth City Manager’s Conference 

    Bryan Davis Due Back In Court October 21 

    Sean Dunne Next Mayor of Portsmouth?

    Dunne: “It’s Time for Portsmouth to Speak Up” on Davis Resignation 

    confused woman

    Portsmouth Council Weighs Asking Davis to Resign 

    Turning Point USA

    Student Democrats Deny Role in Petition to Ban Turning Point USA at SSU 

    Turning Point USA

    Portsmouth Politics Escalate: SSU Students Petition to Ban Turning Point USA

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder’s Office Increases Fees 

    Scottie Powell

    Commissioner Powell Responds to Conflict of Interest Questions 

    FOP Endorses Malone, Neff in Portsmouth City Election 

    Bryan Davis

    Where’s Bryan Davis? GOP Says Step Down — Court Says Suspended

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    Where’s Bryan Davis? After Two Missed Meetings, GOP Says It’s Time to Step Down 

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    Exclusive: The Bench Is Back — But the Political Drama Isn’t Over 

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    Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis

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    Bryan Davis

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    Scottie Powell

    Powell Calls on Commissioner Davis to Resign 

  • Feel Good
    sending flowers to Japan

    Flower Delivery: Share Scioto’s Heart with Japan

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    A man approaching the bowling lane with a red bowling ball as his three friends in the background cheer him on.

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    How To Make Your Daily Driver Feel Like a Sports Car

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    How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home

    A man sitting in a vehicle is handing over an ID card to a female police officer standing by his window.

    Tips for Staying Calm During Police Encounters

    Cyn Mackley

    Cyn Mackley Channels Haunted Appalachia

    A group of friends stand around a table, smiling, laughing, and drinking. There are plates of food on the table.

    Creative Ways To Host Outdoor Events This Summer

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    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

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    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

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    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

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    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

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    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

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    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

  • Obituaries
    Dale E. Ratliff

    Dale Edward Ratliff, 78 of South Shore

    Theresa Inez (Barnett) Mallory

    Theresa Inez Barnett Mallory, 83, of South Shore

    Luther Fredric Magee, age 79 of Myrtle Beach

    Charles E. Newton

    Charles E. Newton, 88, of Waverly

    Gary Ray Pyles,

    Orville McWhorter, Jr., 83 of Franklin Furnace

    Shirley Mae Miller

    Shirley Mae Miller, age 87, of Otway

    Floyd Fredrick Book

    Floyd Fredrick Book, 79 of Stout

    Jayne Adams Gaspich

    Harold Eugene Copas

    Harold Eugene Copas, 90 of Wheelersburg

    Patricia Lane Nagel

    Patricia Lane Nagel, 82 of South Shore

    Mildred Irene Metzler, 90 of South Webster

    Carmeta Lyn Twinam, 56 of Portsmouth

    Gary Ray Pyles,

    Wayne Edward Lykins, 78 of Beaver

    Mary Imogene Burchett

    Mary Imogene Burchett, 95 of Clarksburg

    Mary Jane Patterson

    Mary Jane Patterson, 92 of Wheelersburg

    Daniel Ray Osborne

    Daniel Ray Osborne, age 76, of Waverly

       Marvin Roger ‘Sonny’ Davis, 89, of Portsmouth

    Terrie Sue Lewis

    Terrie Sue Lewis, 73 of South Shore

    Denise Yvette Elizabeth (Potter) Bell

    Denise Yvette Elizabeth Bell, 79 of Portsmouth

    Gladys Belcher Fritz

    Gladys Belcher Fritz, 77 of Wheelersburg

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9 Child Predator Busts in Southern Ohio: Authorities Warn ‘The Danger Is Real’ 

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
4 months ago
in Public Safety
Clayton Pender

Clayton Pender

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In the quiet towns of Southern Ohio—where neighborhoods are tight-knit and schools are central to daily life—a chilling truth has come to light: child predators are not just an online menace or distant threat. They’re here. In our communities. And law enforcement says the danger is very real. 

Over the past year, a coordinated and aggressive effort by multiple law enforcement agencies has uncovered deeply disturbing crimes involving child sexual exploitation, trafficking attempts, and the distribution of graphic child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The sheer scale and depravity of these crimes should serve as a wake-up call to every parent and caregiver in the region. 

Uncovering a Network of Predators 

Investigations led by the Southern Ohio Organized and Major Crimes Task Force, in partnership with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and multiple county and city law enforcement agencies, have resulted in a string of arrests and convictions. 

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Dale Edward Ratliff, 78 of South Shore

Theresa Inez Barnett Mallory, 83, of South Shore

Luther Fredric Magee, age 79 of Myrtle Beach

Sean Spellman, arrested in late summer 2024, was found in possession of CSAM involving infants. He’s now serving 16–20 years in prison. 

Michael Waugh, Larry Zehm, Carl Loper, and Brad Peters were arrested during online sting operations for attempting to engage in or purchase sex from minors. All were successfully prosecuted in Pike County. 

On April 16, 2025, Kyle Rhoades was sentenced to 16–20 years for his own possession of CSAM. 

In spring 2025, Byron Myers and Joseph Keeney were indicted for allegedly trying to solicit sex from a minor. 

Perhaps most shockingly, Joseph Heflin, from Texas, traveled across state lines with the intent to abduct a child from Pike County and take her out of state. That case has drawn national interest and remains under federal investigation. 

And on July 3, 2025, Clayton Huber Pender, a convicted child molester out on parole, was arrested for attempting to produce CSAM involving children as young as 10. He was captured thanks to joint efforts between Ohio and Georgia law enforcement. 

A Unified Front Against Exploitation 

Local agencies, including the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, Portsmouth and New Boston Police Departments, and the FBI, have all played critical roles in the operations. Special thanks were extended to officers and operatives who worked undercover, exposing predators by posing as children online. 

The Warning for Parents: This Danger Is Not Theoretical 

Let’s be clear: These crimes are not happening in far-off cities—they are happening right here in Southern Ohio. The internet has removed geographic boundaries for predators, and they are actively seeking out vulnerable children in our area. 

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If you’re a parent, the time to act is now. Law enforcement urges families to stay vigilant: 

Tips for Keeping Your Children Safe 

Monitor online activity. Know what apps your child is using, who they’re talking to, and what they’re sharing. 

Have open conversations. Encourage your kids to come to you with concerns. Let them know it’s okay to talk about anything that feels uncomfortable. 

Use parental controls. Most devices and internet providers offer settings that limit access to unsafe content. 

Stay informed. Keep up to date with local news and law enforcement alerts about ongoing investigations or threats. 

Report suspicious activity. If you suspect online grooming or exploitation, report it immediately to law enforcement or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). 

What Comes Next 

With multiple cases still under investigation, authorities are urging continued public support and awareness. Community members are asked to remain alert and report anything unusual. “We’ve made progress,” said Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman, “but this battle is far from over.” 

These recent cases serve as a stark and sobering reminder: No community is immune. It’s time we all recognize the danger, educate ourselves and our children, and work together to protect the most vulnerable among us. 

If you suspect a child is in danger, call 911 immediately. To report child sexual exploitation, contact the CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678 or visit www.missingkids.org. 

Let’s protect our kids—because the threat is real, and it’s here. 

Tags: ArrestsAttorney GeneralChildrenDavid ThoroughmanFBIFeaturedinvestigationLawmissingNationalNew BostonNewsletterOhioPike CountyPolicePortsmouthschoolsScioto CountyScioto County Sheriff David ThoroughmanSheriffSouthern Ohio
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