Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis, already suspended from office on voluntary paid leave, made his first appearance in Scioto County Common Pleas Court this morning. Represented by attorney Matthew O’Leary, Davis entered a plea of not guilty to a sweeping list of corruption charges.
The court set Davis’s bond at $50,000 recognizance — meaning he won’t have to pay cash unless he fails to appear. As part of the bond conditions, Davis was ordered to:
- Stay away from witnesses in the case
- Avoid county employees
- Have no contact with fellow commissioners
Immediately after court, Davis was escorted to the Scioto County Jail, where he was fingerprinted before being released. His next hearing is scheduled for October 21.
👩 Lori Davis Also Pleads Not Guilty
Davis’s wife and co-defendant, Lori Davis, also pleaded not guilty to her own set of charges, which include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, money laundering, receiving stolen property, and tampering with evidence. Like her husband, she was released on a $50,000 recognizance bond and ordered to the jail for fingerprinting.
⚡ The Bigger Picture
The arraignment is just the latest chapter in a corruption scandal that has rocked Scioto County politics.
- Bryan Davis is charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft in office, aggravated theft, and money laundering.
- Prosecutors say Davis and Lori were the unnamed “John and Jane Doe” co-conspirators linked to former Economic Development Director Robert Horton.
- Horton faces his own trial on charges of theft in office, bribery, money laundering, and tampering with public records after allegedly funneling public money into sham companies.
The fallout has been swift:
- Davis was provisionally suspended from office last week after signing a written agreement with prosecutors, effectively placing himself on paid leave while awaiting trial. If convicted, he will have to repay all salary collected during his suspension.
- The Scioto County Republican Party has formally called on him to resign, saying his presence is a distraction that burdens county government.
- Commissioners Scottie Powell and Merit Smith have also urged Davis to step aside.
Bottom Line: After weeks of speculation about his absence, Davis now has ink on his fingerprints, a bond order in place, and a trial ahead. Whether he ever returns to the commissioner’s office—or repays taxpayers for his time away—will depend on what happens next in court.
