Davis suspended from Scioto County Commission

SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio (WOWK) – A Scioto County commissioner facing felony charges has been suspended from the commission, effective immediately, according to court documents.

The State of Ohio and Bryan Davis, himself, filed a joint motion in the Court of Common Pleas of Scioto County after Davis submitted a written statement to the State authorizing a special prosecutor to submit a “judgment entry of provisional suspension” to the court.

While still active on the commission, Davis missed the last two commission meetings. During those meetings, his fellow commissioners, Merit Smith and Scottie Powell, said they did not have the authority to force Davis to resign due to the Ohio State Code.

According to the indictment, filed on Aug. 22, 2025, Davis is facing 13 charges, including Corrupt Activity, Theft in Office, Money Laundering, Forgery and Aggravated Theft. His wife, Lorinda Sue, faces 10 charges, including Corrupt Activity, Money Laundering, Tampering with Evidence, Forgery and Receiving Stolen Property.

In a Facebook post, Powell said on Feb. 14, 2023, he learned that there was a potential conflict of interest between “Commissioner Davis, Economic Development Director Robert Horton and their wives’ shared business.” An investigation was subsequently opened into the matter.

Powell then said, on Feb. 14, 2025, the Scioto County Board of Commissioners learned there were felony indictments against Robert Horton and his wife.

According to Horton’s indictment, he is facing 15 charges that include Corrupt Activity, Theft in Office, Telecommunications Fraud, Falsification and Bribery. His wife Lioubov is facing 12 charges, including Corrupt Activity, Theft in Office, Bribery, Tampering with Evidence, Money Laundering and Having an Unlawful Interest in a Public Contract.