Portsmouth Man Arrested for Rape, Drug Trafficking and Permitting Drug Abuse
- Scioto County Sheriff's Office
- Jun 1, 2022
- 1 min read
NEWS RELEASE
June 1, 2022
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman stated that his office was contacted by the
Portsmouth Police Department, May 27th , 2022, in reference to a sexual assault report. The
Sheriff’s Office was advised that the victim was taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center for
treatment, then transported to Adena Health Systems in Waverly, Ohio for a sexual assault
examination.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel, working jointly with the Scioto
County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victim’s Unit and the Portsmouth Police Department, was
assigned the case for further investigation.
During the investigation detectives were able to conduct interviews which resulted in the suspect
being located at his address, 2124 8th Street, Portsmouth, Ohio. As a result, the suspect was
arrested without incident.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that during the investigation detectives received information of drug
abuse and drug trafficking occurring at this location.
Arrested was George Case Sanderlin, age 45, of 2124 8th Street, Portsmouth, Ohio. Sanderlin has
been charged with two counts of Rape, a felony of the 1st degree, one count of Permitting Drug
Abuse, a felony of the 5th degree, and one count of Trafficking in Drugs, a felony of the 5th
degree. Sanderlin appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, and is
currently being held on a $120,000 bond.
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 information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.
Cases like this show how trafficking and abuse so often travel together, leaving victims trapped in cycles that only deepen with time. What stands out is how the people facing charges here are often dealing with their own substance issues, which doesn't excuse anything but does point to a broken system. Fentanyl addiction moves through communities faster than law enforcement can respond, and arrests alone won't stop the flow. Real change requires accessible treatment options that reach people before they end up in headlines like this one. Until we treat the demand side with serious medical and therapeutic support, supply will keep finding its way in.