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PIKE COUNTY, Ohio. (WSAZ) – New information has been released regarding an organized and major crimes task force child predator investigation in Pike County, according to Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman.
Thoroughman said he worked alongside Ohio Attorney General David Yost, 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 in multiple operations and investigations targeting child sexual exploitation over the past several months.
In late summer of 2024, Sean Spellman was arrested for the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including content involving infants, in a joint investigation, Thouroughman said.
He said Spellman was sentenced to 16 to 20 years in prison.
Other online sting operations occurred in fall of 2024, leading to the arrests and convictions of Michael Waugh, Larry Zehm, Carl Loper, and Brad Peters, according to Thoroughman.
Thoroughman said all were charged with attempting to engage in or purchase sex from minors, and that all were prosecuted and sentenced in Pike County.
On April 16, 2025, Kyle Rhoades was sentenced to 16 to 20 years after a joint investigation into his possession of CSAM, he said.
Additional indictments were made in the spring of 2025, issued against Byron Myers and Joseph Keeney for allegedly attempting to solicit sex from a minor, Thoroughman said.
In another case, Joseph Heflin, of Marble Falls, TX, traveled to Pike County, intending to meet a child and transport her out of state, according to Thoroughman.
He said the case has drawn attention from both the FBI and Texas law enforcement.
In July 2025, Thoroughman said authorities uncovered an attempt to produce CSAM involving children as young as 10.
Thoroughman said this led to the arrest of Clayton Huber Pender, of Twiggs County, GA, on July 3, 2025, following a collaboration between Pike County investigators and the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office.
Pender was already on parole for child molestation, he said.
According to Thoroughman, Pender is currently in jail in Georgia and has been indicted by a Pike County Grand Jury, with felony warrants being filed in Ohio.
No children were physically harm in Pender’s case, he said.
Thoroughman said more CSAM investigations will continue.
Copyright 2025 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
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