The courthouse drama that’s been gripping Scioto County for more than a year just hit another snag—and the fallout isn’t just legal. It’s stalling jobs, projects, and millions in potential investment.
🚨 It’s been more than a year since the state raided the Economic Development Office, and seven months since former director Robert Horton was indicted on a laundry list of felony charges. Yet the long-awaited trial still hasn’t begun—and as of this week, it’s been delayed again.
📜 Fresh court update:
“After discussion, it was agreed that another status conference shall be scheduled for September 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM… Defendants, through counsel, agree to waive time from July 30, 2025 until September 16, 2025.”
Translation? No trial date. No movement. No resolution.
💼 WHAT’S AT STAKE
Horton—along with his wife, Lioubov Horton—faces charges including theft in office, aggravated theft, money laundering, bribery, and tampering with public records. Prosecutors say the pair created a fake business to funnel public money from the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA) and Minford Emergency Ambulance Service into their own pockets.
The case also features two mystery figures—known only as “John and Jane Doe”—whose identities remain sealed, fueling constant speculation.
🏗 PROGRESS ON HOLD
Without a verdict or even a trial date, Scioto County still has no economic development director and no clear path forward. New Commissioner Merit Smith says growth is a top priority, but Commissioner Scottie Powell warns they can’t build a new system when fresh charges—or fresh names—could still drop.
After going a year without meeting, SOPA has resumed regular sessions, but with no single point of contact for developers, progress is slow.
📉 BOTTOM LINE:
Until September 16—and maybe beyond—the county’s economic future remains chained to a courtroom calendar that refuses to move. The legal limbo continues, and so does the wait for answers.
