47-year-old Ohio man faces rape charge involving 12-year-old girl

BELLAIRE, Ohio (WTRF) — A Bellaire, Ohio, man has been charged after an investigation into the reported rape of a 12-year-old girl, according to the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives began investigating in early September. As a result, Thomas Edward Carson, 47, of Bellaire, was charged in Belmont County Eastern Division Court with rape of a child under 13.

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be presented to a grand jury.

Sheriff James Zusack commended his detectives for their work on the case, as well as the agencies that assisted in the investigation, including the U.S. Marshals Service (Northern District of West Virginia), Bellaire Police Department, Martins Ferry Police Department, Belmont County Child Protective Services and Wheeling Police Department.

Anyone with information related to Thomas Edward Carson or the investigation is asked to contact the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit at 740-695-7933.