Exclusive new updates in the case against former Southern Ohio Port Authority and Scioto County Economic Development Director Robert Horton and his wife.
SCDN has learned that the previously scheduled court dates in the high-profile Horton corruption case have been vacated. The trial, which had been set to begin on July 28, 2025, is now on hold. According to a recent judgment entry from Scioto County Common Pleas Court:
“All dates set forth in the March 24, 2025, entry are hereby vacated.”
The court has ordered that the parties must hold a discovery conference before June 13, 2025, with a telephonic status report scheduled for June 20, 2025, at 10 a.m.
As of now, there’s no word on any new trial dates or whether the court plans to reveal the identities of “John and Jane Doe”—the unnamed individuals listed in the initial indictments as co-conspirators in the alleged scheme.
The Countdown Was On – But Now on Pause
We told you two months ago that the trial date was set for July 28. Now, that countdown is on hold.
Robert Horton, the disgraced Economic Development Director and former head of the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA), had been slated to face the music this summer in what prosecutors are calling one of the biggest corruption cases in Scioto County history.
Due to the explosive nature of the allegations, Retired Judge Dean Evans from Gallia County was assigned to oversee the proceedings, replacing local Judge Howard Harcha to avoid any conflicts of interest.
The Charges: A Shocking Web of Deceit
Horton faces a staggering 15-count indictment that includes:
🔹 Theft in office
🔹 Aggravated theft
🔹 Money laundering
🔹 Bribery
🔹 Tampering with public records
But he’s not the only one in hot water—his wife, Lioubov Horton, faces 12 charges of her own, including:
🔹 Telecommunications fraud
🔹 Tampering with evidence
Her separate three-week trial was originally scheduled to begin on September 2, with a final pretrial hearing on August 18. It remains unclear if those dates will also be vacated.
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?
🔹 Previously set:
- May 1 – Final deadline for motions
- July 1 – Pretrial hearing
- July 28 – Trial begins
🔹 Current status:
All dates have been vacated. Next step: Discovery conference by June 13, status report June 20 at 10 a.m.
With millions of taxpayer dollars potentially at stake, all eyes remain on this unfolding legal drama. Will the truth finally come out? Stay with SCDN for the latest developments.
