The political drama in Scioto County just hit a new level of chaos and consequence as county commissioners officially moved to oust embattled Economic Development Director Robert Horton. The commissioners met in executive session Tuesday morning to discuss terminating Horton, who is currently under indictment for a laundry list of corruption charges.
Commissioner Scottie Powell explained that due to legal requirements, the commissioners had to handle the HR matter in private before taking a public vote. After an hour of deliberation, they unanimously voted to fire Horton, bringing an end to his tenure as the county’s top economic official.
However, Horton’s role as the director of the Southern Ohio Port Authority isn’t as easily severed. According to the Ohio Revised Code, the Port Authority Board must meet and vote on his termination. In an interesting turn of events, the board later announced it had canceled its regularly scheduled meeting for the evening, leaving Horton’s fate in that position in limbo.
Commissioners Defend Their Controversial Past Decisions
Facing scrutiny over their handling of the corruption scandal, Commissioners Bryan Davis and Cathy Coleman stood by their previous actions, stating they had always followed legal counsel’s advice throughout the months-long investigation. That guidance appears to have included their controversial 2-1 vote to reinstate Horton after initially placing him on paid leave when investigators executed search warrants at county offices.
When asked whether any of them felt they had a conflict of interest in handling Horton’s fate, Powell and Coleman said they did not. Commissioner Davis, offering a more philosophical take, said, “For me, it’s—you’ve got to do what’s right for the county.”
Commissioner Scottie Powell, who vocally opposed reinstating Horton from the start, struck a more forward-thinking tone. “I view this as an opportunity to move forward. There’s a lot more to come.”
Horton & Wife Appear in Court, Plead Not Guilty
While his firing was being decided by the commissioners, Robert Horton made his first court appearance before Judge Harcha in Scioto County Common Pleas Court for an arraignment on the multiple felony charges against him. Horton pleaded not guilty, and his bond was set at $50,000. However, in a surprising move, Judge Harcha recused himself from the case, leaving the Ohio Supreme Court to appoint a new judge to oversee the proceedings.
As part of his bond conditions, Horton was ordered to report to the Scioto County Jail for fingerprinting and DNA swabbing before being released on a signature bond. His wife, Lioubov Horton, who faces her own set of felony charges, also entered a not guilty plea and was released on a $50,000 bond.
What Happens Next?
With Horton now officially booted from his county role but still holding his Port Authority position until further notice, all eyes are on the next steps in this unfolding corruption saga. Will the Port Authority Board finally meet to terminate Horton? Will more indictments follow? And how will this scandal impact the political future of Scioto County’s leadership?
One thing’s for sure—this circus is far from over.