Organized & Major Crimes Task Force Child Predator Investigation

NEWS RELEASE​​​​​​​​

July 10th, 2025

Ohio Attorney General David Yost, Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman, Portsmouth Police Chief Debby Brewer, New Boston Police Chief Carl Compton, Scioto County Prosecuting Attorney Shane Tieman, Pike County Sheriff Tracy Evans, Pike County Prosecuting Attorney Michael A. Davis, and Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless jointly announce that multiple operations and investigations targeting child sexual exploitation have been conducted in Pike County, Ohio, over the past several months. These ongoing efforts reflect a unified and aggressive response from local, state, and federal agencies.

In late summer 2024, a joint investigation led to the arrest of Sean Spellman for the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including content involving infants. Spellman was sentenced to 16–20 years in prison. 

In fall 2024, multiple online sting operations led to the arrests and convictions of Michael Waugh, Larry Zehm, Carl Loper, and Brad Peters, all charged with attempting to engage in or purchase sex from minors. All were successfully prosecuted and sentenced in Pike County.

On April 16, 2025, Kyle Rhoades was sentenced to 16–20 years in prison following a joint investigation into his possession of CSAM. 

In spring 2025, indictments were issued against Byron Myers and Joseph Keeney for allegedly attempting to solicit sex from a minor. In a separate and deeply concerning case, Joseph Heflin, of Marble Falls, Texas, traveled to Pike County intending to meet a child and transport her out of state. That case has drawn interest from both the FBI and Texas law enforcement.

In another investigation, authorities uncovered an attempt to produce CSAM involving children as young as 10. The suspect, Clayton Huber Pender of Twiggs County, Georgia—already on parole for child molestation—was arrested on July 3, 2025, following collaboration between Pike County investigators and the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office. Pender is currently incarcerated in Georgia and has been indicted by a Pike County Grand Jury. Felony warrants have also been filed in Ohio. Thankfully, no children were physically harmed in this case.

These operations would not have been possible without the collaboration of the Southern Ohio Organized and Major Crimes Task Force, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Ohio BCI, Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Portsmouth Police Department, New Boston Police Department, Piketon and Waverly Police Departments, Ohio State Highway Patrol, FBI, and the Twiggs County (GA) Sheriff’s Office.

We extend special recognition to Chief Deputy Chris Jones, Major Bob Barbie, Officer Roger Risner, Dispatcher Alexis Shreck, our undercover operatives, and two unnamed individuals for their exceptional efforts in these investigations.

While these arrests and convictions mark significant progress, our work is far from over, we remain fully committed to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who prey on children.

We urge parents and guardians to be vigilant about their children’s use of social media and electronic devices. The threat is real and ongoing.

And to those still out there: we are not done. Not even close.