NEWS RELEASE
September 16, 2024
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman stated that a School Resource Deputy was advised that three juvenile females had reported an incident to a school employee on September 12, 2024.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated the deputy determined the complaintwas a law enforcement matter, not a school matter, and contacted a detective for further investigation.
Detective Sgt. Jodi Conkel, working jointly with the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Special Victim’s Unit, responded to the school. Sergeant Conkel spoke with one of the victims as well asa witness to the incident.
An additional victim was located and additional information gathered. Detectives determined that the suspect had asked a 12-year-old female to have sex with him.
Detectives also learned that on a separate date that the suspect had a juvenile female ask her 13-year-old friend if she would have sex with him.
Sheriff Thoroughman stated that deputies and detectives checked several locations in the attempt to locate the suspect without success.
On September 13, 2024, a detective responded to the alleged suspect’s residence, but was unable to get an answer at the door.
The suspect was contacted by phone at which point he finally answered the door. The suspect was transported to the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation, which ultimately resulted in him being arrested.
Arrested was Jerry Curtis Huggins, age 50, of 348 Haney Road, Wheelersburg, Ohio. Huggins has been charged with two (2) counts of Importuning - one being a felony of the 2nd degree for a child being under the age of 13 and the other being a felony of the 5th degree for a child being age 13.
Huggins appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Monday, September 19, 2024, and is being held on a $15,000 bond.
This is still an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Jodi Conkel @ 740-351-1091.