NEWS RELEASE March 15, 2022
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman stated that his office was contacted about an incident that occurred at Walmart, located in New Boston, Ohio on Saturday March 12, 2022.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that his office received an email from a non-law enforcement group. The email was then forwarded to Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel and the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims’ Unit.
The investigation revealed that an adult male was talking to what he believed to be underage children. The conversation was sexual in nature, and inappropriate pictures were being sent. The adult male was attempting to meet up with the underage children at Walmart, as they had discussed online. While the adult male was at Walmart he was confronted by this group, at which point the adult male walked away from the area.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that detectives responded to the alleged suspects house located in New Boston, Oho. Detectives seized several electronic items and obtained search warrant for these items. The male subject was arrested as a result of this investigation.
Arrested was Randolph Victor Hockenheimer, age 54 of New Boston, Ohio. Hockenheimer has been charged with two counts of Attempted Importuning, a felony of the 4th degree, and one count of Disseminating Mater Harmful to a Juvenile, a felony of the 4th degree. Hockenheimer is currently being held in the Scioto County Jail on a $15,000 bond and will appear in Portsmouth Municipal Court today, Tuesday March 15, 2022.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that could result in more charges being presented to the Scioto County Grand Jury on a later date. Anyone with any information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091