A string of unsettling incidents involving alleged predators and minors has rocked the Portsmouth area, with three separate reports surfacing in recent days.
The most serious came Monday afternoon, when 38-year-old Vincent Lasher was arrested and booked into the Scioto County Jail on charges of pandering obscenity involving a minor. He was taken into custody just after 4 p.m. No further details have been released about what led to the arrest, but investigators are expected to release more information as court proceedings begin. We will continue to monitor court records for updates.
In a second, unrelated case also reported Monday, a juvenile contacted Portsmouth Police to report a sex offense involving a male relative. Because the alleged incident occurred outside city limits, police referred the case to the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, and a deputy was dispatched to take the report. The nature of the offense has not been disclosed due to the sensitivity of the case and the age of the person involved.
And in a third disturbing report, a child staying at the Four Keys Inn approached the hotel manager, saying that a man was “bothering him” and claiming he believed the individual was a child molester. Officers responded to the scene and spoke with the child. While the child said nothing inappropriate had happened during that specific encounter, he reported that the man had previously acted strangely around other kids. Police documented the complaint for further investigation.
Community on Alert
These three incidents have raised serious concerns in the Portsmouth community about child safety and the presence of predators in public and private spaces.
Law enforcement urges parents and guardians to speak regularly with their children about boundaries and to report any suspicious behavior immediately — even if nothing criminal has occurred yet.
“Kids often sense when something doesn’t feel right, even if they can’t fully explain it,” said one expert. “It’s important we take every report seriously and investigate thoroughly.”
Anyone with additional information related to these incidents is encouraged to contact local authorities.