Scioto County deputies are investigating two separate reports involving alleged sex offenses against children, including one incident reported in Wheelersburg and another involving allegations dating back three years.
In the first case, a man went to the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office to report an incident he said had happened the previous afternoon in Wheelersburg.
The allegation involves pandering obscenity involving a minor.
Deputies also interviewed two witnesses as part of the initial investigation.
No arrest or charge was listed in the information available so far.
Child Reports Incident From Three Years Ago
In a separate case, deputies were called to Southern Ohio Medical Center after a child asked to report an incident that allegedly happened three years ago in Pike County.
Officers took information for a report.
Because the alleged offense happened in Pike County, that case may require coordination with law enforcement and prosecutors there.
Neither report means investigators have determined that a crime occurred. It starts the process of gathering evidence and determining what happened.
What Happens After a Report?
Scioto County has its own Special Victims Unit, a joint investigative unit involving the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office and Scioto County Sheriff’s Office that handles crimes against children and other vulnerable victims.
That means a report like the Wheelersburg case may move beyond the deputy who first takes the complaint.
Specialized investigators can review the initial report, interview witnesses, seek digital or other evidence, and coordinate with prosecutors. When appropriate, a child may also undergo a specially conducted forensic interview designed to gather information without repeatedly making the child retell the allegation.
Depending on the circumstances, investigators may also work with children services, medical professionals, victim advocates, or agencies in another county.
That becomes especially important in the second case, where the child reported something that allegedly happened three years earlier and in Pike County.
Older allegations can still be investigated, but the process may involve tracking down witnesses, records, messages, or other evidence from years ago and determining which agency has jurisdiction.
For now, both cases remain under investigation. No one has been identified as charged in either report.