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Scioto County Daily News
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  • Public Safety

    Shots Fired Into Wheelersburg Home Leave Residents Shaken 

    “I’ve Got a Gun”: Yelling on Dorman Drive Ends in Arrest 

    handcuffs jail arrest

    Convicted Killer Arrested at Portsmouth Homeless Shelter

    Haley Borders Schackart

    New Indictments Revealed in Pike County Spa ‘Black-Market’ Weight Loss Shot Bust 

    Scioto County

    Mugshots and Press Releases: Why Was Haley Borders Treated Differently Than Scioto County Commissioner? 

    Michael Jenkins Ironton

    Drugs, Guns, and a Laundry List of Charges Land Pair in Scioto County Jail

    SCDN File Photo

    Eagle-Eyed Officer Spots Missing Woman at Speedway 

    Fingerprinted and Freed: Commissioner Bryan Davis Out on Bond 

    From Threats to Machetes: Portsmouth Police Tackle a Wild Day of Arrests and Disturbances 

    Haley Borders Schackart

    Black Market “Skincare” Shots: Spa Owner Busted in Weight-Loss Injection Scheme 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/19/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Deputies Arrest Two in West Portsmouth Domestic Dispute

    Gun Scare 2

    Gunfire Reports in Lucasville Keep Deputies on Alert

    “Commandos Are Coming”: Deputies Respond to Meth-Fueled Crisis in Wheelersburg 

    Police Investigate Missing Child Report After Alarming Call 

    Car Linked to Chillicothe Shooting Found in Portsmouth 

    Recovery Housing Scioto County

    Too Many Beds Here, Not Enough Anywhere Else: New Report on Recovery Housing 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 09/18/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    James Paul Ruggles

    Scioto County Grand Jury Indicts Ruggles on Murder, Arson, and Gross Abuse of a Corpse 

    “Oops, That’s Not Tobacco!”: Inmate’s Underwear Drop Leads to Drug Bust 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics
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    Portsmouth Council Weighs Asking Davis to Resign 

    Turning Point USA

    Student Democrats Deny Role in Petition to Ban Turning Point USA at SSU 

    Turning Point USA

    Portsmouth Politics Escalate: SSU Students Petition to Ban Turning Point USA

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder’s Office Increases Fees 

    Scottie Powell

    Commissioner Powell Responds to Conflict of Interest Questions 

    FOP Endorses Malone, Neff in Portsmouth City Election 

    Bryan Davis

    Where’s Bryan Davis? GOP Says Step Down — Court Says Suspended

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    Where’s Bryan Davis? After Two Missed Meetings, GOP Says It’s Time to Step Down 

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    Exclusive: The Bench Is Back — But the Political Drama Isn’t Over 

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    Where’s Bryan Davis? Commissioners, Citizens Ask the Same Question 

    Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis

    Bryan Davis Arraignment Set, New Judge Assigned 

    Bryan Davis

    Why Commissioner Davis Staying in Office Raises Big Problems 

    Scottie Powell

    Powell Calls on Commissioner Davis to Resign 

    Scioto County Bryan Davis Scandal

    🗓 Timeline of a Scandal: How Scioto County’s Economic Development Crisis Unfolded 

    Bryan Davis

    Commissioner Bryan Davis and Wife Indicted in Scioto Scandal 

    Joey Sandlin

    Joey Sandlin Announces Inauguration Ceremony  

    Erie Canal Lock 50

    After Nearly a Decade of Talk, Scioto County Moves Closer to Restoring Historic Lock 50 

    Portsmouth City Council 2023

    Portsmouth City Council Considers More Cash for Lawsuit Defense 

    West Virginia SNAP

    🚨No More Free Pop? West Virginia Bans Soda from SNAP—Should Ohio Be Next?🚨 

    We Don’t Do Roads!: Scioto Commissioners Clarify Who’s Really in Charge of Road Repairs 

  • Feel Good
    A man sitting in a vehicle is handing over an ID card to a female police officer standing by his window.

    Tips for Staying Calm During Police Encounters

    Cyn Mackley

    Cyn Mackley Channels Haunted Appalachia

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    Creative Ways To Host Outdoor Events This Summer

    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

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    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

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    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

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    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

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    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

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    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

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    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

    Good Samaritan 2

    Good Neighbor and Officer to the Rescue 

    Portsmouth Flood Wall Stars

    Meet the New Flood Wall Stars! 

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    Training Tips To Help Your Dog Get Used to Their Wheelchair

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    Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like a Home

  • Obituaries
    Gary Ray Pyles,

    Terry Groh, 78 of Lake City

    Melissa Joy Davida Kessler

    Melissa Joy Davida Kessler, 25 of Portsmouth

    Theresa Gale Tumbleson

    Theresa Gale Tumbleson, 68 of South Shore

    Jerry Lee Ruby

    Jerry Lee Ruby, 84 of Wheelersburg

    Gregory Denning

    Gregory S. Denning, 62 of West Portsmouth

    Joy Wilson-Brown

    Joy Elaine Brown 77 of Portsmouth

    Jerry Robert Rockwell

    Jerry Robert Rockwell, 68 of Londonderry

    Michelle E. Workman

    Michelle E. Workman, 30, of Wheelersburg

    George Cassidy

    George Cassidy, 81 of Portsmouth

    Gary Ray Pyles,

    Gary Ray Pyles, 82 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Rose Ann Mason, 74 of Wheelersburg

    John Edward Ockerman

    John Edward Ockerman, 79 of Columbus

    Mary Edith Ellifritt

    Mary Edith Ellifritt, 86 of Wheelersburg

    Barbara Williams

    Frances Catherine Montgomery, 95 of Lucasville

    Joan Hair

    Joan Hair 80 of Lucasville

    Donald Lee Jamison

    Donald Lee Jamison 73 of McDermott

    Joan Dunham

    Joan Dunham, 89 of Sciotoville

    Philip Coles Penn, 79 of Otway

    Patricia Ann Brammer

    Patricia Ann Brammer, 94 of West Liberty

    Jack R. Jenkins

    Jack R. Jenkins, 78 of Waverly

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Slow Public Defenders Cost County

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
5 years ago
in Politics
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If public defenders want to get paid, they must submit their bills on time. The Scioto County Commissioners are taking a hard line because they are sick and tired of late billing costing taxpayers money.

Scioto County defendants declared indigent by the court system are eligible for a public defender. That means taxpayers foot the bill for their lawyer. Those bills can be expensive. Last year, the Ohio Bar Association passed a resolution calling for counties to raise the minimum amount paid to public defenders to $75 per hour.

90-Day Deadline

Lawyers submit their legal bills to the county. The county pays the bill and then submits it to the State of Ohio for reimbursement. The County can be reimbursed for up to 85% of the legal fees. That only happens if the bills are submitted within 90 days. The county normally spends around $60,000 a month on indigent defense.

RELATED POSTS

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Please Support This Local Business

According to the commissioners, not all lawyers request to be paid in a timely fashion. According to Commissioner Bryan Davis, “We just did an acceptance of a reimbursement today that had $4,000 of funds that can’t be reimbursed.”

That’s why the commissioners have a firm, new rule in place. When a trial is over, attorneys have 90 days after the end of that month to request reimbursement.  According to Davis, “We’re trying to eliminate the rejected amounts. Unless the county has requested and the state public defender has granted an extension, the state public defender will not pay the reimbursement.”

Davis said local judges make it clear to attorneys that they have 90 days after the end of the case to request their money. “If they don’t, we don’t get paid.”

They Won’t Get Paid

According to Commissioner Mike Crabtree, “In the past, what we’ve always done is that when the bills are turned in, even if they are late, we’ve paid them but the state didn’t pay us. We’re not going to pay something we’re not going to reimbursed for. If they don’t turn the bills in on time, they don’t get paid.”

Davis said the money adds up. “Last month, you’re looking at $4,000 rejected. Multiply that by 12 and you’re looking at a high number. It’s tax dollars lost. We’re just tightening it down, locking it down.”

 

Tags: Bryan DavisCounty CommissionersCrimeFeaturedLawMike CrabtreeScioto County
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