The countdown has begun! Robert Horton, the disgraced Economic Development Director and former head of the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA), will face the music as his corruption trial is officially set for July 28.
This isn’t just any trial—it’s a three-week legal showdown in what prosecutors are calling one of the biggest corruption cases in Scioto County history. Due to the explosive nature of the case, Retired Judge Dean Evans from Gallia County will oversee the proceedings instead of local Judge Howard Harcha to avoid conflicts of interest.
The Charges: A Shocking Web of Deceit
Horton is facing a staggering 15-count indictment that includes:
🔹 Theft in office
🔹 Aggravated theft
🔹 Money laundering
🔹 Bribery
🔹 Tampering with public records
But that’s not all—his wife, Lioubov Horton, is also caught in the scandal! She faces 12 charges, including:
🔹 Telecommunications fraud
🔹 Tampering with evidence
Her own three-week trial is scheduled to begin on September 2, with a final pretrial hearing on August 18. Judge Evans will preside over her case as well.
A Valentine’s Day Indictment That Shook the County!
On February 14, the Scioto County Grand Jury dropped a bombshell—indicting the Hortons for allegedly orchestrating a massive scheme to steal public funds.
Prosecutors say the couple—along with three unidentified co-conspirators—created a fake business to siphon money from SOPA and the Minford Emergency Ambulance Service. Horton allegedly disguised bribes as commissions for his wife, falsified records, and even ordered businesses to destroy evidence when the Ohio State Auditor’s Office started digging into their finances.
What’s Next?
🔹 May 1 – Final deadline for motions in the case
🔹 July 1 – Pretrial hearing where jury instructions will be finalized
🔹 July 28 – Trial begins!
With millions of taxpayer dollars potentially at stake, all eyes will be on the courtroom as Scioto County’s biggest corruption trial in years unfolds. Will justice be served? Stay tuned!
