The April 2 jail riot that raged for nearly 12 hours inside the Scioto County Jail has now led to felony indictments against seven inmates, following a massive law enforcement response that stretched into the next morning.
According to prosecutors, the disturbance began around 4:30 p.m. on April 2 in the jail’s “dorm” area, where 52 inmates were housed. The chaos continued until the late morning of April 3, when order was finally restored after manpower from multiple agencies converged on the facility. The response included the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Special Response Team from the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Portsmouth Police, and Scioto County Sheriff’s deputies.
The Indicted Inmates
Those indicted by the Scioto County Grand Jury include:
Kaleb Dixon, 26, Wheelersburg – Aggravated Riot, Inciting to Violence, Vandalism (2 counts), Attempted Escape, Obstructing Official Business.
Jonathan Penix, 38, Wheelersburg – Same charges.
Benjamin Damron, Jr., 58, Portsmouth – Same charges.
Shawn Pollard, 31, Lucasville – Same charges.
Carson Craft, Jr., 46, Portsmouth – Same charges plus an additional count of Obstructing Official Business.
Derek Blankenship, 36, Portsmouth – Same charges.
Bradley Pauley, 33, Portsmouth – Same charges.
Authorities say each man was either directly involved in the violence or complicit in fueling it.
Court Appearances
Blankenship already appeared in Scioto County Common Pleas Court and was declared indigent. Dixon, Penix, Damron, Craft, and Pauley are scheduled for arraignment on October 10.
Background
Officials say the riot left significant damage inside the jail and included attempts to escape custody. Charges of vandalism and obstruction reflect the destruction and disruption caused during the lengthy standoff.
